New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed an amicus brief in a legal case concerning the treatment of immigrants detained at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) New York field office located at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. The brief supports claims that ICE has unlawfully held immigrants in poor conditions for extended periods.
According to Attorney General James, recent changes to ICE guidelines have resulted in hundreds of people being detained for days at a time in holding rooms that were previously limited to short-term stays of up to 12 hours. These detentions include individuals arrested after attending immigration court proceedings or routine check-in appointments. In May 2025, ICE began making mass arrests at this location, with detainees including children as young as seven years old.
Attorney General James stated, “The abhorrent treatment of immigrants at 26 Federal Plaza is illegal and it must stop. No one should be held in horrendous conditions for days in unfit and unsafe facilities. I am urging the court to order the federal government to follow the law and improve conditions for anyone detained there.”
The lawsuit brought by detainees alleges that dozens of people are kept in small rooms without beds or sleeping mats, with only a single toilet and sink available. Detainees reportedly receive two meals per day, lack overnight medical personnel, and are denied visits from family members or attorneys.
These arrests have affected students, small business owners, and workers throughout New York City. The detentions have disrupted families and communities, increasing risks such as loss of housing and basic needs when wage-earning relatives are taken into custody. Children may also face placement into foster care if their parents are detained.
Undocumented immigrants make up nearly one out of every twenty workers in New York City’s workforce and contribute about $6.7 billion annually in federal and state taxes (https://fiscalpolicy.org/immigrants-economic-contributions). Prolonged detention can therefore impact not only individual families but also the broader city economy.
Attorney General James’s brief urges the court to grant a preliminary injunction requiring ICE to address these conditions at 26 Federal Plaza. She argues that detaining individuals under such circumstances is unlawful and calls for immediate improvements to ensure safety and humane treatment.
