Inside a Courthouse, Chaos and Tears as Trump Accelerates Deportations
Inside an immigration courthouse in the heart of Lower Manhattan, federal agents in T-shirts and caps cover their faces with masks as they discreetly attend routine hearings filled with immigrants.
The agents tip off other officers huddled in the court's staid hallways as undocumented immigrants on their radar leave the hearings. They then move in to arrest their targets, sometimes leading to disorderly scenes as husbands are separated from wives, and parents from children.
The scene unfolding in New York City has repeated itself in immigration courthouses across the nation, a window into the Trump administration's accelerating crackdown amid pressure from the White House to ramp up deportations. In Los Angeles, workplace raids have inflamed tensions and led to demonstrations. In New York, the courthouse arrests have emerged as a defining flashpoint.
In June, hundreds came and went at one federal building — for asylum hearings, citizenship applications and mandated check-ins with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Some left in handcuffs.
Immigrants arrested after appearing in courtrooms on higher floors were ferried by agents to holding cells on the 10th floor, an off-limits area where ICE typically keeps a few people for several hours as they are processed and transferred elsewhere.
But ICE agents have apprehended so many people showing up for routine appointments this month that the facilities appear to be overcrowded. Hundreds of migrants have slept on the floor or sitting upright, sometimes for days, said Francisco Castillo, a Dominican immigrant who was held there for three days last week.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
19 minutes ago
- CBS News
Bay Area farmworkers hope for action as President Trump promises ICE reform
HALF MOON BAY — In a post to Truth Social on Thursday, President Trump promised farmworkers that changes are coming to how ICE operations are conducted. Mr. Trump acknowledged in the post that people within the farming industry have stated that his administration's "aggressive policy on immigration" has led to the industry losing longtime workers, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace." "This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!" Mr. Trump said. It's the first sign of hope for the immigrant community that has lived in fear since the raids began. Sandra Sencion is a farmworker program director with ALAS. It stands for Ayudandos Latinos a Soñar, which means helping Latinos to dream. The last few months, though, have been a nightmare for the immigrant community in Half Moon Bay. "These ICE raids are happening all around us and the fear that that could happen to us, regardless of whether you're documented or not," Sencion said. The farmworkers in Half Moon Bay worked through the pandemic and a mass shooting that killed seven people in 2023. They now worry about their families being torn apart. Sencion says they've had to do more outreach as more and more people need mental health and legal support. "We have a wait list for our mental health line and we are increasing our presence within our local farms and housing sites," she said. Some of the farms in Half Moon Bay are locking their gates so federal agents can't freely walk on their properties to take workers away. Sencion says the same is being done at the ALAS house to make sure people feel comfortable reaching out for help. She said many farmworkers have told her they just want to work to provide for their families. Now, they wait to see if Mr. Trump will make any changes to his immigration policy. "It's a message of hope to some extent to hear our president say something that is promising, but again, we're hoping that there's action behind that," Sencion said.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Appeals court blocks ruling requiring Trump to hand National Guard back to California
The Brief An appeals court has blocked a federal judge's ruling requiring Donald Trump to return control of the National Guard to the state of California. San Francisco judge Charles Breyer made the initial ruling Thursday, calling Trump's deployment of the National Guard unconstitutional. Another hearing in the case is scheduled for June 17. LOS ANGELES - Hours after a federal judge ruled President Donald Trump's deployment of the California National Guard in Los Angeles was unconstitutional, an appeals court temporarily blocked the ruling Thursday night. National Guard troops have been in Los Angeles for a week after anti-ICE protests. Another hearing on the issue is scheduled for next week. What we know San Francisco federal judge Charles Breyer made the initial ruling on Thursday, June 12. In his ruling, Breyer said that Trump overstepped his power and violated the Tenth Amendment by calling in the National Guard without Newsom's consent. The order required Trump to hand control of the troops back to Newsom by noon on Friday, June 13. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked Breyer's order on Thursday night. Dig deeper Below is part of Breyer's ruling: "On June 6, 2025, the federal government initiated immigration raids across the City of Los Angeles. Protests swiftly followed, and some individuals involved in those protests were unruly and even violent. State and local law enforcement responded. The following day, President Trump ordered that members of the California National Guard be federalized, and thereupon assumed control of those forces. At this early stage of the proceedings, the Court must determine whether the President followed the congressionally mandated procedure for his actions. He did not. His actions were illegal-both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith." Prior to Thursday night's ruling, Trump took to Truth Social to blast Newsom for his handling of the weeklong anti-ICE protests: "Incompetent Gavin Newscum should have been THANKING me for the job we did in Los Angeles, rather than making sad excuses for the poor job he has done. If it weren't for me getting the National Guard into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now!" What they're saying Newsom praised Breyer's ruling, saying that the case was "a test of democracy, and today we passed the test." The other side The White House had called Breyer's order "unprecedented" and said it "puts our brave federal officials in danger." What's next The appeals court has set another hearing for June 17. The Source This report used court documents obtained by FOX 11 and information from the Associated Press.
New York Post
25 minutes ago
- New York Post
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams claims Trump is exciting ‘white supremacy' across nation, slams Adams at protest
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams told a cheering crowd at a Manhattan protest Thursday that 'white supremacists' are thrilled with the way the country's headed under President Trump's leadership, while questioning where Mayor Eric Adams was during ICE raids in the city. 'All the white supremacists are excited,' he said to whoops and hollers in agreement at the Foley Square protest against Trump's travel ban. 5 Public Advocate Jumaane Williams accused the president and the mayor in a speech he delivered at a protest in Foley Square. Mauro/X Advertisement Williams shook his fist and demanded to know what Adams was doing while New Yorkers were getting 'kidnapped,' a reference to ICE arrests. He also criticized the mayor's position on NYPD brass golfing with Trump earlier this week. 'We're in a scary situation and I have to call out the fact that Mayor Eric Adams is nowhere to be found in a city full of immigrants,' he said to boos. Advertisement 'Where are you?' Williams yelled. 5 Public Advocate Jumaane Williams frequently compares anyone criticizing him to President Trump. ALEXANDER DRAGO/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Williams has long used the bully pulpit of his office to attack the mayor. When calls for Adam's resignation were at fever pitch in the wake of his federal indictment last September, Williams relished the possibility of taking over as mayor. The city's charter stipulates that the Public Advocate is next in the line of succession if the current mayor can no longer serve. Advertisement Surrounded by protesters holding signs that read 'Immigrants Are New York!' and 'No Travel Ban,' Williams lashed out against the president and the mayor, while referencing the clashes in Los Angeles. 5 Public Advocate delivered a speech critical of Mayor Eric Adams at a protest in Foley Square Thursday. Mauro/X 'We're in some tough situations,' he said. 'But I believe in the resolve of a better America. I believe in those of us – even in the dark times — who refuse to allow the darkness to overwhelm us.' When Williams finished speaking, a few counter-protesters approached the crowd and started shouting 'no more cheap labor' and 'the days of cheap labor are over.' Advertisement 5 Counter-protesters shouted that 'the days of cheap labor' are over after Jumaane Williams finished his speech. Oliya Scootercaster/X The far left activist turned politician is leading in the polls in his bid for a second term as Public Advocate, an office described as the city's ombudsman. He is leading with a double-digit margin even in the most hostile polls in a contentious race against Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, who represents Queens' 38th district. 5 NYPD leadership defused a tense showdown at a protest against President Trump's travel ban in Foley Square. Oliya Scootercaster/X The two clashed in the hour-long final debate Thursday night. In the final debate, Rajkumar attacked Williams for being lazy at his job. 'It's not enough to sleep until noon and then write a press release criticizing Mayor Adams,' she said. Williams responded with a familiar trope of his when under attack: comparing Rajkumar to Adams, whom he routinely compares to Trump. Advertisement 'When you don't know how this office works or what to do with it. You come up with Trumpy attacks that you get from Twitter, or you get from Mayor Eric Adams,' Williams shot back at his challenger. The citywide position doesn't hold much power, but it has been the launching pad to more prestigious political office. Attorney General Letitia James and former Mayor Bill de Blasio both held the position.
