Judge orders Department of Justice to preserve records following ICE’s provision of false information for immigration court arrests.

A federal judge in New York has issued a directive compelling the Justice Department to maintain its communication records with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following revelations that the agency misled officials regarding its authority to arrest individuals in immigration court. This decision, rendered by Manhattan Federal Judge Kevin Castel, mandates that ICE officials and their legal teams preserve all forms of communication pertaining to a May 2025 memorandum used erroneously to provide legal justification for these arrests.

This ruling emerges from an ongoing lawsuit lodged against ICE by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) alongside various civil rights organizations. The plaintiffs contend that ICE has unlawfully targeted individuals for deportation during their appearances in immigration court, effectively denying them the opportunity to pursue their legal claims.

Earlier this week, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is representing the government in this litigation, informed Judge Castel that a memo previously cited to justify the arrests—under the directive of ICE—did not, in fact, grant the agency the authority it claimed. This acknowledgment raises significant concerns regarding the legal framework supporting immigration enforcement actions over the past year, particularly under the policies of the Trump administration.

According to legal representatives from NYCLU, this revelation underscores that ICE failed to establish any legitimate basis for its actions in immigration courts, a practice that has led to the apprehension of over a thousand individuals at Federal Plaza in Manhattan. Reports indicate that agents, often disguised and unmarked, have conducted these arrests, which included stopping individuals who had just completed their court appearances. Many of those apprehended were reportedly complying with court procedures to address their asylum claims.

Immigrant rights advocates have decried ICE’s tactics as inhumane, asserting that the agency has indiscriminately targeted law-abiding individuals merely attending their court hearings. The implications of this directive by Judge Castel remain uncertain, particularly concerning the statuses of individuals already detained and how it may affect ongoing deportation strategies tied to the previous administration’s policies.

Following this recent admission of misinformation, prosecutors indicated to the court that further briefing would be necessary to reevaluate the existing rulings. The errors, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tomoko Onozawa, stem from misleading information provided by an unidentified ICE attorney, illuminating the complexities and challenges faced within the legal processes governing immigration enforcement.

As the situation evolves, the NYCLU and its coalition partners have been granted two weeks to respond to this latest development, leaving many to speculate about potential changes to enforcement practices and the treatment of individuals within the immigration system. Media News Source will continue to monitor the developments in this high-profile case.