Inside ICE's NYC Immigration Court Crackdown

Arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at New York City immigration courthouses have surged under the second Trump administration, transforming routine court appearances into moments of fear and uncertainty for immigrants and their families. At 26 Federal Plaza, Manhattan’s largest immigration court, ICE agents have detained asylum seekers and other noncitizens as they arrive for hearings, turning the federal building into the epicenter of a controversial enforcement surge. In Sidebar’s ninth episode this season, we break down the legal fallout in New York federal courts and the impact inside the building’s 10th-floor holding cells with help from Courthouse News New York City reporter Erik Uebelacker. Despite a class action injunction from U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan addressing conditions and cell capacity, and a separate ruling from Judge P. Kevin Castel largely barring courthouse arrests, ICE has continued to carry out detentions under limited exceptions, fueling an ongoing legal battle over due process and the rule of law.Special guest:Benjamin Remy, immigration attorney with New York Legal Assistance GroupThis episode was produced by Kirk McDaniel. Intro music by The Dead Pens. Editorial staff is Ryan Abbott, Sean Duffy and Jamie Ross.