Judges Order Release of Immigrants Detained in ICE Operation
In a recent ruling, judges in Manhattan and New Jersey mandated the release of three West African immigrants detained during an ICE operation targeting counterfeit goods on Canal Street last fall. One judge described the arrests as “plainly illegal.”
New Jersey District Judge Karen Williams criticized the October 21 arrest of 19-year-old Sergegne Diop, who has a type of immigration status designed to help neglected children and teens obtain citizenship. Williams stated that the arrest was “plainly illegal from the beginning.”
Mamadou Ndoye, a 45-year-old from Mali who has been in the U.S. for decades, was ordered released by Manhattan District Judge Vernon Broderick on February 5. The judge acknowledged that federal authorities had a final order for Ndoye’s removal, but did not clarify how they determined his identity or the reason for his detention.
Broderick wrote, “The mere fact that an individual may be subject to a final exclusion order does not justify detention without due process.”
However, just a week later, Ndoye found himself back in ICE custody after being told it was merely a routine check-in to adjust his GPS monitor. Currently, he remains in an immigration detention facility in New Jersey.
Abdou Tor was similarly arrested during a related dragnet in November. A ruling by Manhattan District Judge Arun Subramanian declared his arrest unlawful as well. Since then, at least four of the other seven individuals arrested in October are still in custody at immigration detention centers located in New Jersey and Louisiana.
This dramatic operation led to unplanned protests from community members and drew criticism from then-Mayor Eric Adams, who expressed that undocumented individuals should not be the focus of law enforcement, advocating for a focus on violent offenders instead.
Homeland Security officials, on the other hand, celebrated the arrests in a press release, asserting they aimed to “make New York’s Canal Street safe again.” Despite recent legal setbacks, the department defended its actions. A spokesperson stated, “Despite an activist judge, President Trump and Secretary (Kristi) Noem will continue to fight to arrest, detain, and deport criminal illegal aliens who have no right to terrorize our communities.”
