Mayor Eric Adams supported ICE’s recent call to immediately cease the “illegal” arrests of immigrants attending hearings at federal immigration offices in lower Manhattan.
The City Department of Justice submitted court documents in favor of a lawsuit aiming to stop arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at 26 federal plazas. They argue that this creates widespread fear among the approximately 3 million immigrants living in New York City.
“From my early days as a police officer to my current role as mayor, my priority has been the safety of New Yorkers under the law,” Adams stated. “We should ensure that all New Yorkers feel secure when attending legal proceedings as they seek to obtain legal status.”
These arrests have caused many immigrants to shy away from courts, police, and other essential services due to the risk of detention and deportation. This situation has pushed otherwise law-abiding individuals into the shadows, as referenced in cases filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal organizations.
Public backing for the lawsuit—filed earlier this month—demonstrates Adams’ strongest opposition yet to President Trump’s immigration policies.
While Adams had, at times, engaged positively with the White House, he previously distanced the city from its sanctuary city status and even supported policies leading to the increased use of Rikers Island.
In an Amicus brief submitted on Tuesday, officials argued not only that ICE’s arrests at these federal locations are illegal, but they also “harm the public interest” by preventing residents from participating in critical immigration legal processes.
“Access to courts is fundamental to the rule of law, but our judicial system can’t function effectively if courts are perceived as traps for those simply attempting to meet the law’s demands,” the legal document stated.
Muriel Good Turphant, the city’s chief legal officer, emphasized that New York City has become a focal point of Trump administration policies aiming to detain individuals at courthouses, thereby hindering immigrants and residents from seeking justice.
“Each illegal arrest by ICE undermines fairness and the integrity of the judicial processes that form the backbone of our justice system,” she remarked.
Recent developments show that one of the lawsuits against ICE led to a victory when a judge mandated improvements in conditions at a makeshift detention cell within the Federal Immigration Court at 26 Federal Plaza.
A review of federal data indicates that nearly half of all immigration court arrests nationwide occurred in Manhattan this past spring. However, attendance at court has significantly declined, illustrating the fear immigrants experience that keeps them from showing up.
This marks the first instance of the Adams administration endorsing an initiative to end such arrests, though earlier this summer, the city had filed a brief supporting individuals caught in ICE sweeps, which included public school students.
“We shouldn’t compel anyone in our city to remain hidden or avoid using crucial resources, whether that involves sending their children to school, seeking medical care, calling 911 in emergencies, or attending court hearings,” Adams added on Tuesday.
As for that recent lawsuit against ICE, the judge’s ruling came in light of claims that detained individuals lacked basic necessities like toothbrushes.
