New York Legal Assistance Group Inc.
05/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/19/2026 14:05
Statement from the New York Legal Assistance Group about Federal Judge Halting Immigrant Arrests at 26 Federal Plaza
Statement from the New York Legal Assistance Group about Federal Judge Halting Immigrant Arrests at 26 Federal Plaza
- May 19, 2026
- 12:00 pm
New York, NY- Monday evening, federal Judge P. Kevin Castel issued a ruling barring federal agents from making arrests in immigration courts in New York City. The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) has had lawyers in the hallways at 26 Federal Plaza and 290 Broadway assisting immigrants who arrived at their hearings pro-se and filing habeas corpus petitions on behalf of dozens of people detained by ICE.
Melissa Chua, Director of the Immigrant Protection Unit at NYLAG, responded in a statement:
"This ruling is a relief to the hundreds of immigrants with future hearings and check-ins at 26 Federal Plaza who will no longer fear following the rules by going to their hearings and routine check-ins. This also comes a year after countless people suffered at the hands of ICE's cruel and violent mass detention and deportation policy. For the last year, our lawyers stood in the hallways at lower Manhattan immigration court giving counsel to hundreds of family members and loved ones of those unlawfully detained. Even with this ruling, our advocates will continue to stand at the ready because the Trump administration may no longer be able to use courthouses as immigrant dragnets, but will continue to flagrantly violate people's due process rights in our streets, at workplaces, and in public places across the state and our nation."
Share this post
Related Articles
Statement from the New York Legal Assistance Group about 1st Immigrant Detention Post Federal Judge Halting Arrests at 26 Federal Plaza
May 19, 2026 No Comments
NYLAG - with New York University - are representing Alexander on the habeas petition.
New York Legal Assistance Group Raises $1.2M at 2026 "Justice Forward" Gala
May 19, 2026 No Comments
NYLAG honors Joseph Salama, Chief Compliance Officer for Coinbase, and Jill L. Rosenberg, Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
New York Legal Assistance Group Sues DOJ Over Freedom of Information on Immigration Bond Hearings
May 11, 2026 No Comments
Today, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) filed a complaint against the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) for failing to comply with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on how immigration judges make bond determinations.
New York Legal Assistance Announces Graham Bridgeman as Director of Philanthropic Partnerships: Individual & Corporate Giving
April 30, 2026 No Comments
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Graham Bridgeman as its new Director of Philanthropic Partnerships: Individual and Corporate Giving.
New York Legal Assistance Group Unveils Spanish & English Videos for Emergency Planning for Immigrant Parents
April 13, 2026 No Comments
NYLAG's Standby Guardianship Project provides free legal assistance to empower immigrant families to protect what matters most: their children.
New York Legal Assistance Group's Special Education Unit Receives Grant from The New York Bar Foundation
April 8, 2026 No Comments
NYLAG recently received a grant from The New York Bar Foundation. The grant will support its Special Education Unit, which provides free legal services to students and families to ensure that children with disabilities can exercise their guaranteed right to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
New York Legal Assistance Group Inc. published this content on May 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 19, 2026 at 20:05 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]