Federal agents conducted a series of arrests of immigrants at mandatory check-ins with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency on Tuesday, following summonses sent out by a private contractor involved with ICE.
Eyewitness accounts reported that ICE officers were seen escorting at least 16 individuals out of a nondescript office building where immigrants in deportation proceedings are required to report for appointments under the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program.
These check-ins typically allow individuals to present their cases and comply with reporting requirements, but a recent shift in procedure led to increased tensions this week.
On Monday evening, many immigrants received urgent notifications through the company’s app instructing them to report for appointments on either Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
One message, reviewed by THE CITY, prompted recipients: “Your ICE official has asked that you present yourself in the office to review your case this week. Please arrive at the office Tuesday the 3rd, or Wednesday the 4th of June. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.”
Those arriving at the office on Tuesday observed masked ICE agents moving individuals out of the building in handcuffs and into parked SUVs, which then sped off to the local ICE field office at 26 Federal Plaza.
The operations appeared to take place systematically, with agents reportedly escorting groups of four people every hour throughout the afternoon.
Though agents declined to disclose their identities, they directed inquiries to ICE, which did not respond to requests for comment.
Those subjected to the check-ins included immigrants at various stages of their deportation proceedings, highlighting the growing concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable individuals in such circumstances.
While some people were allowed to leave without being detained, with future appearance dates assigned, there were disputed reports of inconsistent treatment.
Three women who also received the appointment message were told to return on Wednesday, instructed specifically to bring their children with them, a change that raised concerns among those familiar with the process.
Yasmine Farhang, an attorney with the Immigrant Defense Project, stated that the recent developments marked a significant change, noting that she had previously accompanied clients into the basement offices run by BI Inc., a GEO Group subsidiary, but was informed that lawyers were no longer allowed to enter.
Amidst unfolding events, families gathered outside seeking information on their loved ones, many in distress after seeing relatives detained following their court appearances.
One individual recounted how he and his brother went to 26 Federal Plaza for their deportation hearings; while he was permitted to leave after his hearing, his brother was detained.
Reflecting on the situation, the man said in Spanish, “I guess I have to go home by myself,” expressing the strain of suddenly being separated from his family member amid the legal proceedings.
He added, “I’m not coming back,” in reference to his next court date, illustrating the fear that has arisen among many in such precarious situations.
Farhang commented on the implications of these check-in arrests, describing them as an escalation of the Trump administration’s strategies targeting immigrants.
“ICE is expanding their tactic of using the courthouse trap to target really vulnerable people,” she stated. “This is a site where people are one, required to go and two, by nature of their policy not going to have counsel with them, which makes it especially vulnerable.”
The events on Tuesday signal a potentially alarming trend for immigrants dealing with the complex immigration system, especially in cities like New York where such tactics may become more commonplace.
image source from：https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/06/03/ice-arrest-dragnet-manhattan/
