ICE agents are increasingly turning immigration courts into what advocates call “deportation traps,” arresting immigrants who show up for required hearings in a practice that’s alarming legal experts across the country.
The tactic, which has accelerated in recent months, targets vulnerable immigrants—many without legal representation—who arrive at courthouses expecting to participate in their immigration proceedings only to be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers waiting inside or nearby.
“The administration cannot hide guidance that turns immigration courts into traps and accelerates deportations without fair hearings,” stated advocacy groups that have sued the government to obtain records about these practices through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Courtroom Ambushes
New York has emerged as a hotspot for these controversial arrests. Immigration attorneys at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) have witnessed “violent, extrajudicial arrests” in growing numbers this summer, raising serious concerns about due process and access to justice.
The pattern isn’t limited to New York. Similar incidents have been documented across multiple jurisdictions, with ICE agents specifically targeting individuals attending mandatory court hearings—often those without attorneys who would otherwise alert them to potential risks.
What’s particularly troubling? Many immigrants are being arrested when they’re simply trying to comply with the legal system by showing up for their scheduled hearings.
A class action lawsuit now challenges these practices, arguing that ICE agents are “turning courtrooms into deportation ambush zones” in violation of fundamental due process rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
Beyond the Courthouse
The strategy extends beyond immigration courts. There’s been a nationwide increase in ICE arrests at USCIS interviews and mandated check-ins, with agents particularly focusing on individuals with prior removal orders, criminal history, or suspected immigration violations, according to information compiled by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
“This creates an impossible choice for immigrants,” said Maria Sanchez, an immigration attorney who asked that her real name not be used to protect her clients. “Either miss your court date and automatically lose your case, or show up and risk immediate detention.”
Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University has been tracking immigration criminal prosecutions through May 2025, showing how enforcement patterns have shifted in recent years.
Legal Questions and Consequences
Critics argue these tactics fundamentally undermine the judicial process. When immigrants fear attending their own hearings, the entire system breaks down, they say.
“We’re seeing cases where people with legitimate asylum claims or relief available to them are being whisked away before they can even present their case,” another immigration advocate told me on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
The legal community remains divided on solutions. Some attorneys advise clients to bring legal representatives to every court appearance. Others argue for systemic change through litigation and legislation.
Meanwhile, thousands of immigrants face an excruciating dilemma: assert their legal rights by appearing in court and risk immediate detention, or avoid court and forfeit their cases entirely. For many, neither option offers a path to justice.
