ICE Goes to Trial Over “Worse Than Animals” Treatment in New York

ICE Faces Federal Trial

Extreme Overcrowding Denounced

Immigrants Slept on Floors

The lawsuit against ICE over detention conditions at the 26 Federal Plaza building in Manhattan will reach federal court in New York this Wednesday.

Why it matters: The complaint accuses immigration authorities of holding detained immigrants in conditions considered inhumane and in violation of constitutional rights.

The hearing will take place in the Southern District of New York court at 9:30 a.m., according to El Diario NY.

Make the Road NY said the trial seeks to hold ICE accountable for the conditions reported inside the temporary holding rooms at Federal Plaza.

ICE Faces Trial Over Abuse of Immigrants

|#DiarioLibreUSA | Trial begins against ICE over alleged abuse and overcrowding of immigrants in NY court https://t.co/Y8nCtauqtY#DiarioLibre #ICE #NuevaYork #Manhattan #Hacinamiento pic.twitter.com/cK3yxFVTjo

— Diario Libre (@DiarioLibre) May 27, 2026

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight immigrants detained last year.

According to the organization, the testimonies describe severe overcrowding, lack of hygiene, and poor medical care.

“The argument is based on the statements of eight witnesses who attest to the inhumane conditions they endured during their detention last year,” Make the Road NY said.

The organization added that the case also includes testimony from ICE officials and internal agency documents.

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Those records detail conditions inside the federal building and complaints related to overcrowding and lack of medical care.

Dozens of immigrants detained after attending routine appointments at Federal Plaza also shared their experiences with relatives, attorneys, and advocacy organizations.

Many said they were arrested by masked ICE agents after leaving immigration hearings.

Detainees Say They Slept on the Floor

ICE Federal Plaza Lawsuit Over Treatment of Immigrants. Photo ChatGPT

One detained immigrant said he remained locked up for weeks at Federal Plaza.

“I was locked up there for weeks, and not only did they make me sleep on the floor, but something as simple as taking a shower was denied to me,” he said.

He also alleged that people with medical needs were not receiving their medication.

“The smell was terrible, not because we were dirty, but because of the awful conditions in which they treated us. Worse than animals,” he added.

ICE previously rejected the accusations.

The agency described the complaints related to conditions in the 10th-floor cells at Federal Plaza as “false.”

However, civil organizations said there are videos and evidence supporting the allegations.

The ACLU said the center was designed only for temporary holds lasting a few hours.

“That center is intended only to hold immigrants on a temporary basis,” the organization said.

The ACLU added that the facility lacks beds, showers, and adequate medical care.

Court Had Already Issued Restrictions Against ICE

According to the plaintiff organizations, ICE began increasing detentions at Federal Plaza in May of last year.

The arrests occurred mainly after immigration hearings.

The ACLU denounced that between 70 and 90 people were at times held in overcrowded conditions in a room of approximately 215 square feet.

After the complaints and demands from members of Congress, the court issued a preliminary injunction in September 2025.

The measure prohibited ICE from holding detainees in conditions considered abusive inside Federal Plaza.

The class-action lawsuit was brought by the ACLU, Make the Road New York, NYCLU, and the law firm Wang Hecker LLP.

The organizations said the order allowed some conditions for detainees to improve.

The ruling also required the provision of mats, hygiene products, and adequate medical care.

In addition, it required free and confidential calls with attorneys within the first 24 hours of detention.

Now, the plaintiffs’ attorneys will seek to have the court convert those measures into a permanent injunction.

The goal of the ICE Federal Plaza lawsuit is to establish lasting protections against future overcrowding and guarantee basic needs for detained people.