(MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, USA) Thousands of people filled the plaza outside the U.S. Immigration Court at 26 Federal Plaza on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in one of the largest New York City actions this year targeting ICE operations and detention practices. Organizers described the day as a broad, nonviolent Immigration Court protest demanding humane treatment for detainees and enforcement of a court order governing the building’s 10th floor ICE holding area. The rally drew at least 11 elected officials and ended with dozens of arrests.
What happened at the protest
The protest unfolded at the foot of the skyscraper that houses the New York Federal Plaza Immigration Court, ICE offices, and other federal agencies. Demonstrators chanted, held banners about conditions inside the building, and staged a sit-in near the entrance.
Immigrant rights groups, faith leaders, local officials, and community organizations coordinated the action. They said recent Trump administration immigration policies and stepped-up enforcement have fueled fear in mixed-status families and overburdened legal aid providers.
Participants said their demands were simple:
- Stop aggressive street arrests and mass detentions
- Treat people in custody with dignity
- Obey a federal court order that limits capacity and requires basic standards such as cleanliness and sleeping mats for anyone held for extended periods
Advocates pointed to the 10th floor space, long criticized in court filings and oversight letters, as a symbol of the gap between policy promises and daily practice. They said the order, recently extended by a federal judge, should be fully implemented and monitored.
Access, oversight, and the core dispute
At the heart of the rally was a clash over access and oversight. Demonstrators argued that public leaders should be able to check conditions when serious complaints persist.
ICE said the 10th floor area is a short-term holding site, not a detention center, and therefore not subject to the same access as full facilities. That distinction matters because it shapes whether elected officials, lawyers, or outside monitors can enter and observe how people are held while waiting for interviews, transport, or hearings.
According to organizers, the crowd moved between the sidewalks and lobby areas during the day, and a number of officials attempted to reach the 10th floor holding area to inspect conditions. Supporters said the aim was to ensure compliance with the federal judge’s order and to press for humane standards.
Protesters tied their action to a broader nationwide push in 2025 calling for reduced detention, greater use of community-based case support, and stronger oversight of federal custody.
Arrests and building lockdown
Police arrested at least 71 people, including 11 elected officials, after a sit-in outside the building and amid efforts by officials to reach the holding area. Those detained included:
- NYC Comptroller Brad Lander
- Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
- State Senators Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport
- Several Assembly members
All were issued summonses and released, according to event organizers and participants.
Later in the day, the building was locked down after a reported bomb threat, briefly halting court operations and public access to the site.
Organizers said civil disobedience was planned to call attention to the judge’s order and emphasize how policy debates translate into real consequences for people in custody. Families with pending hearings and community members with appointments described long waits and uncertainty at the building.
Attorneys and advocates warned that any disruption to legal processes—whether from arrests, lockdowns, or protests—can ripple through already crowded dockets, increasing delays for immigrants seeking relief or defending against removal.
Federal response and legal context
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the event as a “stunt,” saying the protest disrupted law enforcement work and put personnel and detainees at risk. ICE officials said their priority is public safety and that enforcement focuses on people who pose threats or have serious criminal records.
ICE argued that rhetoric around the agency has fueled tensions and contributed to more assaults on officers, a trend they say endangers both staff and those in custody.
Advocates countered that the judge’s order exists because of documented problems, including claims of overcrowding and poor sanitation. They view the 10th floor space as part of a system that has relied too much on detention despite available alternatives.
They also pointed to the government’s own standards for short-term custody, saying basic needs—rest, hygiene, access to counsel, and information—must be met even for brief stays.
For official information on ICE’s custody and field operations framework, see ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court context and local impact
The setting—a busy federal complex where immigration cases are heard daily—made the stakes clear. The New York Federal Plaza Immigration Court manages cases for people from around the world, many of whom fled conflict or persecution and now face high legal hurdles.
The court’s energy on a normal day is intense; adding a mass protest, arrests of public officials, and a building lockdown only underscores the pressure on a system struggling with backlogs and limited space.
Legal aid groups said the protest was a reminder that people need reliable help and clear information. Key contact details:
- Court public address: 26 Federal Plaza, 12th Floor, Room 1237, New York, NY 10278
- Free legal assistance: Legal Services NYC at 917-661-4500, Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Attorneys working nearby said even small changes in custody practices can affect case timelines, package delivery for evidence, and the ability to meet filing deadlines.
Policy takeaways and broader significance
From a policy perspective, the day had several takeaways:
- The demand for oversight is not about one building; it reflects wider questions about the line between short-term holding and detention, and what minimum standards apply.
- Public officials are willing to test that line, even at risk of arrest, if they believe conditions fall short of a federal judge’s order.
- Disruption at a major court site like 26 Federal Plaza carries immediate consequences for hearings and interviews, raising fairness concerns for people with pending cases.
VisaVerge.com reports that the clash in Manhattan mirrors a broader rise in protests across the country this year as communities push for less detention and stronger legal safeguards. New York’s action, with elected officials in custody and a temporary lockdown, may shape how future demonstrations are planned near sensitive federal sites.
It also raises questions about how federal agencies balance security, public access, and accountability when court orders require specific on-site changes.
As the crowd thinned near sundown, organizers promised to keep pressing for compliance with the court order and for changes to ICE operations they view as overly harsh. Federal officials stood by their position that the 10th floor is a temporary holding area not open to outside inspection like a detention center.
Between those firm stances lies an unresolved question that will likely keep drawing attention to 26 Federal Plaza: what conditions are acceptable for short-term custody, and who gets to verify them on the spot?
This Article in a Nutshell
On September 25, 2025, thousands protested at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, targeting ICE operations and demanding enforcement of a federal judge’s order for the building’s 10th-floor holding area. Organized by immigrant-rights groups, faith leaders and local officials, the nonviolent demonstration sought capacity limits, improved sanitation and sleeping mats for detained people. Police arrested at least 71 protesters, including 11 elected officials who were later released with summonses. The building briefly went into lockdown after a bomb threat. DHS and ICE criticized the protest as disruptive; advocates said it highlighted persistent problems—overcrowding, poor conditions, and limited oversight—and pressed for greater transparency and reduced reliance on detention.
