A federal judge ruled Monday that immigration agents can no longer make arrests without exceptional circumstances in and around three Manhattan buildings where immigration proceedings occur, halting a practice that began under the Trump administration.

U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel's decision applies to immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street and 290 Broadway in Manhattan. The ruling does not extend nationwide and allows arrests only when there are serious threats to public safety.

The practice of courthouse arrests enabled agents to detain individuals who appeared for required immigration court proceedings, sometimes resulting in dramatic scenes as those being arrested were separated from family members in courthouse hallways. Judge Castel noted that while there is "a strong governmental interest in enforcing immigration laws," there is also a serious interest in allowing individuals to attend removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims "without fear of arrest."

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY and others on behalf of immigrant advocacy groups African Communities Together and The Door. Government lawyers recently reversed their position in the case, stating that 2025 Trump administration policies regarding courthouse arrests did not apply to immigration courts.

Judge Castel, who had previously declined to ban the practice last year, said the government's new position made it necessary to "correct a clear error and prevent a manifest injustice." Federal agents retain the ability to detain individuals at locations away from immigration courts.

The Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling.