A Honduran mother, Ingrid, and her two young children appeared at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan on yesterday morning for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-in that could determine their ability to remain in the United States. Her eight-year-old son and four-year-old daughter were with her. The family was released later that morning and given a new return date in August. Ingrid’s attorney is seeking a T visa on her behalf and has requested that a federal appeals court block her removal while the application is pending.
Judge’s Short Pause Led To Family’s Return
The family’s brief reprieve followed a temporary restraining order from a federal judge that pushed ICE to bring them back to New York and release them after a prior check‑in. The restraining order later expired, and the judge declined to permanently block the deportation, leaving the family in limbo and set to return to court later this year. THE CITY also reported that the family walked out of 26 Federal Plaza at around 9:30 a.m., paperwork in hand and an August date circled on their calendar.
What The Numbers Say About Kids And ICE
ICE records analyzed by the Deportation Data Project show that at least 151 children in New York City were arrested between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15, 2025, underscoring how so‑called “routine” check‑ins can sweep up minors right alongside their parents. According to Deportation Data Project, the agency’s internal documents make clear that these arrests are not rare one‑offs. Local coverage has tracked the same pattern, with high‑risk ICE check‑ins now treated as appointments many immigrant families dread.
From A Check‑In To A Cross‑Country Lockdown
Ingrid and her children were first arrested five days before Christmas 2025 at what was supposed to be a standard check‑in. They were flown across the country and held in a hotel room for nearly 20 days, spanning Christmas and New Year’s, without contact with a lawyer or family, according to the outlet. THE CITY reports they were eventually pulled off a plane in Louisiana about 20 minutes after boarding, when word of the temporary restraining order reached ICE while the aircraft was still on the tarmac. The outlet also notes that the younger child is a U.S. citizen.
Court Orders Shifted How Federal Plaza Holds Work
Advocates won a temporary restraining order in August 2025 that required ICE to limit occupancy at 26 Federal Plaza and improve access to legal calls and basic hygiene inside the holding areas. Plaintiffs later accused the agency of failing to fully comply with those terms. The ACLU summarized the order’s requirements in a press release, and the detailed filings and docket are available through the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse.
DHS Pushback And Local Outrage
Department of Homeland Security officials have repeatedly rejected the idea that the Federal Plaza space is a de facto detention center and have pushed back on allegations of overcrowding, instead describing it as a processing hub. In coverage of the controversy around 26 Federal Plaza, The Guardian reported comments from DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin disputing claims of substandard conditions. Even as federal officials defend the setup, local advocates and elected officials continue to demand oversight and more transparency about what happens to people who walk in for check‑ins and are not sure they will walk back out.
Ingrid’s attorney is pursuing a T visa for victims of trafficking and has requested that a federal appeals court block her deportation while the application is under review. Immigration advocates note that the case underscores the high stakes for parents complying with ICE check-ins and the ongoing legal disputes at 26 Federal Plaza. Ingrid and her children are currently allowed to return home, with a court date scheduled in August as their legal team continues to pursue the case.
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