Federal advocates for immigrants are searching for responses regarding the 26 Federal Plaza
In a landmark decision, a U.S. District Court has issued a temporary restraining order against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following allegations of inhumane conditions and denial of legal counsel at 26 Federal Plaza, a temporary holding facility in New York.
The lawsuit, filed by immigrant detainees represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Make the Road NY, and Wang Hecker LLP, accuses ICE of extreme overcrowding, lack of basic amenities, and denial of access to critical medical care, adequate food, and legal counsel.
The facility, designed for short-term stays, has become increasingly overcrowded as ICE ramps up arrests of immigrants. Detainees have reported being housed in rooms with 70-90 people, each with approximately 215 square feet, a space insufficient for basic comfort and hygiene.
The lawsuit also alleges that ICE's detention practices at 26 Federal Plaza deny people their Constitutional rights to due process and legal representation. ACLU senior counsel Eunice Cho stated, "ICE's detention policies at 26 Federal Plaza endanger immigrant communities and deny people their Constitutional rights to due process and legal representation."
Despite repeated requests from members of Congress for access to conduct oversight, ICE has refused entry, contravening laws assuring congressional inspection rights. The detainees and advocacy groups characterize conditions as abusive, degrading, and illegal.
In response to the lawsuit, the court has ordered ICE to provide detainees with at least 50 square feet per person, access to hygiene, medical care, bedding mats, and free, confidential, timely phone calls with attorneys. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander welcomed the court ruling, acknowledging the Trump administration’s policies caused the conversion of the 10th floor at 26 Federal Plaza into a makeshift detention center lacking beds, restrooms, and basic supplies, leading to squalid conditions and denial of counsel.
The lawsuit includes allegations that ICE's actions at 26 Federal Plaza are part of a dehumanizing campaign against immigrant communities. New York Attorney General Letitia James, in an amicus brief supporting the detainees’ case, argues that ICE broke the law by holding immigrants for days under inhumane conditions at this field office. She advocates for a preliminary injunction to ensure the federal government improves conditions for detained immigrants.
The class-action lawsuit, with the plaintiffs being detainees housed at the facility, is under scrutiny as ICE's compliance and long-term corrective measures remain under examination as of August 2025. The lawsuit against the Trump administration over conditions at 26 Federal Plaza is a significant step towards ensuring the protection of immigrant rights and upholding basic human dignity.
[1] ACLU Press Release
[2] NYC Comptroller Statement
[3] NY AG James Statement
[4] U.S. District Court Order
[5] NY Daily News Article
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