"No one in New York should be forced to hide in the shadows or be afraid to send their children to school, go to a hospital, or attend a court hearing when called.

Mayor Eric Adams

New York City Moves to Stop Unlawful Courthouse Arrests

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant announced today that the City has filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against the federal government’s campaign of courthouse arrests targeting immigrants. City officials say the practice is “unlawful” and poses a direct threat to community safety.

The brief, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, argues that the city is less safe when immigrants are too afraid to attend hearings or use essential services such as schools, hospitals, and emergency assistance.

Mayor Adams emphasized:

“No one in New York should be forced to hide in the shadows or be afraid to send their children to school, go to a hospital, or attend a court hearing when called.”

Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant added:

“Each illegal courthouse arrest undermines fairness and due process, eroding the very foundation of our justice system.”

The lawsuit challenges federal immigration enforcement policies introduced under the Trump administration, alleging they violate the Administrative Procedure Act by discarding long-standing rules that limited civil immigration arrests near courthouses and removing essential due process protections for noncitizens.

City officials are calling for an immediate halt to these arrests, saying the policy drives law-abiding immigrants underground and undermines public safety across the five boroughs.