Story perspectives

Judge Blocks NYC Immigration Arrest Policy, Restores Security-Only Rule

5/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Judge P. Kevin Castel halted the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration’s immigration-court arrest policy in NYC, saying it forced non-citizens to choose between detention and deportation.
The pause restores the Biden-era rule limiting arrests to national-security threats or imminent risks, after Justice Department admitted an error in the memo to courts.
Groups The Door and Make the Road New York praised the ruling and said the administration will appeal.

1 of 1

Story summary

Judge P. Kevin Castel halted the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration’s immigration-court arrest policy in NYC, saying it forced non-citizens to choose between detention and deportation.
The pause restores the Biden-era rule limiting arrests to national-security threats or imminent risks, after Justice Department admitted an error in the memo to courts.
Groups The Door and Make the Road New York praised the ruling and said the administration will appeal.