(NEW YORK) A U.S. District Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order on August 12-13, 2025, blocking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from holding people in abusive conditions at the 26 Federal Plaza detention site in Manhattan. The order, in place for at least 14 days while the court weighs longer-term relief, responds to a class-action lawsuit that says immigrants were kept in extreme overcrowding, denied basic hygiene, and cut off from confidential contact with lawyers.
The judge’s action marks a rare, swift rebuke of facility practices at a high-profile federal building in the heart of New York City.
Court filings describe as many as 100 people packed into a 215-square-foot room, with no beds or mats, insufficient food, no access to showers or hygiene products, and a “horrific stench.” People reported extreme temperatures, the denial of prescribed medication, and no private way to speak with attorneys. Cell phone videos taken by detainees, submitted to the court, show people lying shoulder-to-shoulder on bare floors and sharing minimal toilet facilities.
Lawsuit and Plaintiffs
The suit was filed by:
– ACLU
– New York Civil Liberties Union
– Make the Road New York
– Wang Hecker LLP
These groups filed on behalf of detainees held at 26 Federal Plaza, detailing the conditions described above and supporting their claims with sworn testimony and video evidence.
Court Order and Immediate Requirements
The judge’s order lays out detailed, enforceable steps ICE must take before continuing to use 26 Federal Plaza for detention. The court requires:
- At least 50 square feet of personal space per detainee
- Clean bedding mats, free blankets, and bottled water
- Adequate hygiene products and frequent cleaning of holding cells
- Free clothing and private changing areas
- Access to medical professionals and prescribed medications
- Free, unmonitored, confidential calls to lawyers within 24 hours of detention
- Printed notice of rights explaining these protections
These measures target the exact conditions raised in the lawsuit: crowding, lack of sleep and sanitation, poor access to health care, and barriers to legal counsel.
The order’s space requirement and the mandate for unmonitored legal calls within 24 hours are especially notable. Together they signal the court’s view that both physical safety and access to counsel are core rights for people in civil immigration custody.
The order remains in effect while the judge considers longer relief. For the next two weeks, ICE can only detain people at 26 Federal Plaza if it meets all the terms. Advocacy groups say they will monitor compliance closely, document improvements or failures, and return to court as needed.
Reactions and Political Context
Lawyers and advocates described the record from 26 Federal Plaza as “horrifying and shocking,” and they expect immediate on-the-ground changes. Eunice Cho of the ACLU said the ruling sends a clear message: ICE may not hold people in abusive conditions or block their constitutional rights to due process and legal representation.
By contrast, Homeland Security Press Secretary Tricia McLaughlin rejected the claims and the court’s findings, calling the lawsuit and order “complete fiction” and denying that any ICE facilities maintain substandard conditions.
This case arrives amid broader national scrutiny of detention operations:
– According to ACLU records obtained through FOIA litigation in May 2025, ICE’s network includes 20 facilities run by GEO Group, with more than 22,000 beds nationwide.
– In July 2025, a dozen members of Congress sued for access to detention centers after alleging the administration had blocked oversight visits. They cited overcrowding and unsanitary conditions as core concerns.
The complaint faults policies under President Trump and criticizes the administration’s handling of congressional oversight, framing access as necessary to evaluate compliance with federal standards.
ICE’s own rules require minimum conditions in detention. The 2025 National Detention Standards address temperature, air and water quality, hygiene, and space. Critics argue that enforcement has been uneven, while the agency maintains facilities are safe and compliant.
The new court order creates a binding floor for conditions at 26 Federal Plaza, backed by the immediate threat of contempt if ICE fails to follow the judge’s terms. For readers seeking the official standards, the agency’s detention requirements are published by ICE at: https://www.ice.gov/detention-standards.
What It Means for Detainees
For people currently or soon to be held at 26 Federal Plaza, the ruling promises direct, tangible changes at intake and during short-term holding:
– Space to move and breathe (50 square feet per person)
– A clean mat and blanket for rest
– Ready access to clean water and hygiene supplies
– Prompt medical review and access to prescribed medication
– Free, unmonitored, confidential calls to attorneys within 24 hours
– A printed notice of rights explaining these protections
These steps could reduce health risks, improve safety, and help detainees contact their lawyers more quickly—addressing barriers that often affect the fairness of immigration hearings.
Operational Impact on ICE
Meeting the court’s requirements will require rapid operational shifts at a site primarily used for interviews and hearings rather than prolonged detention:
– The 50-square-foot rule may force fewer people per holding area, new staging plans, or transfers to other locations.
– Hygiene and cleaning mandates necessitate reliable supplies and oversight.
– Medical access and prescription management must be consistent from the start of custody.
If ICE cannot meet these conditions, the agency’s ability to use 26 Federal Plaza for detention will be constrained.
Broader Implications and Possible Next Steps
The ruling could influence other courts and advocates:
– Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the order’s measurable standards—personal space, bedding, sanitation, medical access, and attorney calls—could serve as a model for emergency relief elsewhere.
– Advocacy groups indicate they will pursue permanent reforms through injunctions and ongoing monitoring.
Upcoming procedural steps include:
1. The court will reassess after the initial 14-day period to decide whether to extend or expand relief.
2. Possible outcomes: a longer injunction, a detailed compliance plan, or court-appointed monitoring if risk of harm persists.
3. The parallel lawsuit by members of Congress seeking facility access could alter oversight dynamics; if lawmakers gain entry, their findings may support either side’s account.
The political and legal fight is likely to continue. The administration under President Trump disputes the central claims and defends detention operations. Advocates argue the court order corroborates detainees’ videos and sworn statements showing people held in extreme overcrowding without basics like bedding, water, and medical care.
That clash—between agency denial and court-backed allegations—will define the next phase in New York and potentially across the United States 🇺🇸.
The lawsuit and the court orders are available through the ACLU and partner groups. ICE statements and the agency’s detention standards are posted on official government sites. For now, all eyes are on 26 Federal Plaza, where the court’s requirements are already in force and compliance will be closely tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
A federal judge ordered immediate reforms at 26 Federal Plaza on August 12-13, 2025, after evidence of extreme overcrowding, denied hygiene, and blocked attorney access. For 14 days ICE must meet space, bedding, medical, and confidential-call standards; activists will monitor compliance while courts consider longer-term relief and possible broader reforms.
