AXIOS (Josephine Walker) - Federal judge blasts ICE over "inhumane" NYC detention conditions
A federal judge slammed ICE for what he called "inhumane and unconstitutional" conditions at a New York City detention center and issued a permanent injunction imposing sweeping standards on the facility. Why it matters: The ruling echoes other court decisions tied to President Trump's rapid expansion of immigration arrests and detention . - Kaplan found that ICE had repeatedly ignored his previous orders and misled the court about its compliance, saying officials had sometimes "intentionally concealed or recklessly disregarded the truth." What they're saying: "The conditions of confinement to which ICE subjected immigration detainees at 26 Fed during the summer of 2025 were inhumane and unconstitutional," U.S. District Judge Lewis A.…
How did Judge Lewis A. Kaplan describe ICE's compliance with previous court orders regarding capacity limits?
Kaplan found that ICE had repeatedly ignored his previous orders and misled the court about its compliance, stating that officials had sometimes "intentionally concealed or recklessly disregarded the truth." He described ICE's disregard of previous court-ordered capacity limits as "persistent, egregious, and, at a minimum, reckless, if not willful."
Q&A ID 5e1a75d9-0871-4bf6-8b34-2014626b69c7
What was the intended use of the holding rooms at 26 Federal Plaza in NYC compared to how they were actually used by ICE?
The holding rooms at 26 Federal Plaza are meant to be short-term facilities designed to house detained immigrants for 12 hours or less, but ICE routinely held people there for extended periods of time.
Q&A ID 9da43259-7007-448a-b035-d424e3a273d4
What mandates were issued regarding medical care and legal communication for immigrants held at the NYC facility?
The court directed ICE to keep a licensed medical professional on-site at all times and provide detainees with a basic medical screening to identify and treat acute or chronic medical conditions. Regarding legal access, ICE must provide immigrants a way to make confidential, unmonitored, and free telephone calls to their attorneys or potential attorneys.
Q&A ID 1ad586fa-9d1d-4357-ace9-ee22a97ded72
What specific amenities and hygiene supplies must ICE provide to detainees according to the court's injunction?
ICE is required to provide detainees with three daily meals, each with bottled water, and adequate supplies of soap, toilet paper, oral hygiene products, and feminine hygiene products. Additionally, immigrants held overnight must receive a clean bedding mat or mattress, a pillow, and a blanket.
Q&A ID 0fe13598-77a1-4f76-8160-81c9835d783a
What are the specific requirements for floor space and temperature for hold rooms under the permanent injunction issued by Judge Kaplan?
The permanent injunction requires ICE to provide at least 50 square feet of qualifying floor space per person, excluding space within eight feet of a toilet, and to maintain hold room temperatures between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q&A ID 44eb5323-b4dd-49cf-ac70-09104f44df5b
What did U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rule regarding the conditions at the 26 Fed detention center in New York City during the summer of 2025?
Judge Kaplan ruled that the conditions of confinement to which ICE subjected immigration detainees at 26 Fed were inhumane and unconstitutional. He stated that by detaining far more people in hold rooms than intended and for longer periods than intended, ICE deprived detainees of sleep, sanitary living conditions, basic personal hygiene needs, sufficient food and water, and adequate medical care.
Q&A ID 5f1d0048-ad40-4e8c-8f38-12557cac546e
How did Judge Lewis A. Kaplan describe ICE's response to his previous court-ordered capacity limits?
Kaplan stated that ICE's disregard of previous court-ordered capacity limits had been "persistent, egregious, and, at a minimum, reckless, if not willful," and found that officials had sometimes "intentionally concealed or recklessly disregarded the truth" regarding their compliance.
Q&A ID 4743c80d-f3cc-4e47-96e7-23a6aeb92216
What specific provisions did the court's permanent injunction mandate regarding food, hygiene, and bedding for detainees?
The injunction requires ICE to provide detainees with three daily meals, each accompanied by bottled water, and adequate supplies of soap, toilet paper, and both oral and feminine hygiene products. Additionally, immigrants who are held overnight must be provided with a clean pillow, blanket, and a clean bedding mat or mattress.
Q&A ID 99156015-770f-4050-bd1a-ec9396cd72f7
What specific conditions did U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan identify as inhumane and unconstitutional at the 26 Federal Plaza detention center in New York City during the summer of 2025?
Judge Kaplan stated that by detaining more people in hold rooms than intended and for longer periods than intended, ICE deprived detainees of sleep, sanitary living conditions, basic personal hygiene needs, sufficient food and water, and adequate medical care. He also noted that detainees were confined in overcrowded, squalid, and degrading rooms, were severely restricted from accessing counsel meaningfully, and faced monitoring of phone calls where staff or contractors were close enough to overhear, leaving some people fearful and unable to speak freely.
Q&A ID b19e2748-109f-4bc0-943e-566ca003e7fb