WORLD WORLDWIDE US USA - New York NY - New York City NYC - THE CITY SCOOP - Arrests ground to a halt at immigration court this week. Why?

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2025

Dear New Yorkers,

For the first time since masked agents started staking out the hallways of 26 Federal Plaza’s immigration courthouses in late May, attorneys monitoring the building this week said they didn’t witness a single arrest over the course of a whole day, Monday.

After witnessing anywhere between five to 15 arrests of immigrants following their court hearings daily since the spring, lawyer Allison Cutler said she was stunned.

“I felt as if I couldn't trust it,” said Cutler, a supervising attorney with New York Legal Assistance Group, one of two lawyers who has been monitoring the corridors inside 26 Federal Plaza almost every day. “When it gets quiet like that, it kind of sets off alarm bells for me. They're planning.”

One possible factor: a lawsuit filed last week challenging detention inside the building, where dozens of people have been held overnight inside office spaces. Or, it could be that fewer and fewer people are showing up to court — afraid they’ll be arrested if they do.

Compounding the trouble at the facility: a full evacuation last night due to reports of unidentified white powder found there.

Read more here about the sudden slow-down in arrests at 26 Federal Plaza.

Weather 🌤️

Mostly sunny all weekend, with temperatures in the high 80s. There may be some rain Sunday evening.

MTA 🚇

There’s no overnight 6 service between Grand Central-42 Street and Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall, and no overnight G between Bedford-Nostrand and Court Square. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s not in effect today, August 15, for the Feast of the Assumption.

By the way…

Sunday is Manhattan’s last day of car-free Summer Streets. Bike, stroll, or skip down Park Avenue while you still can!

Our Other Top Stories

In part two of its series on ELLIS Prep, a Bronx school for immigrants, our friends at Chalkbeat chronicle how more and more immigration enforcement by the Trump administration is testing the mission and mettle of its educators. Dozens of neighborhoods across the city offer a particular service for keeping kids occupied in the summertime: seasonal, after-hours programs that let young people play basketball late into the night. In this week’s summer newsletter: How New York empties out in August, the Coney Island sandcastle contest and how a city summer program director uses her rare time off.

SPONSORED Is Your Business Ready for Unexpected Challenges?  In an unpredictable world, businesses must be prepared to face unexpected challenges, such as natural disasters or economic shifts. Here are some immediate and long-term actions businesses can take to navigate disruptions:  First assess, communicate and activate your plan: In the event of a disruption, quickly assess the situation and communicate with your team and customers. Transparency is key to maintaining trust and managing expectations. Implement pre-established contingency plans to ensure business continuity, which might include remote work arrangements, temporary relocation, or alternative supply chain routes. Embrace flexibility and focus on customer needs: Foster a culture of agility within your organization by encouraging employees to propose innovative solutions and adapt to new roles as needed. Diversifying your supplier base and investing in supply chain visibility to identify potential vulnerabilities to address will help your business pivot quickly in response to future disruptions. Invest in Employee Development through training and supporting well-being: Providing employees with the training and resources they need to adapt to new technologies and processes and building a versatile workforce will create a team that’s capable of addressing future challenges. Also prioritize employee well-being during times of disruption, by offering support and resources to help them manage stress and maintain productivity. Plan for the long term: Review and update your business plan on a regular basis to reflect changing circumstances and always have a backup plan to account for potential disruptions. For more information on navigating business disruptions and available resources, visit chase.com/businessbanking.  Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.  © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Reporter’s Notebook

Trump Cuts Loom Over Nurses’ Contract Talks

Nurses at 12 private hospital systems represented by the New York State Nurses Association launched their campaign for a new union contract on Thursday, aiming to build on raises and patient-staff ratios won in their previous agreement and historic strike, with Medicaid cuts looming.

So-called safety-net hospitals that deliver care to many uninsured patients and Medicaid recipients, like Flushing Hospital Medical Center, are bracing for the worst. But even profitable networks are cutting back: In June, NewYork-Presbyterian announced sweeping layoffs impacting roughly 1,000 jobs across its system.

At a kick-off event at the Times Square Sheraton, NYSNA officials called on hospital management to preserve and improve services, raise wages, and recruit and retain more nurses.

“If they really didn’t have the money, why are they hiring so many executives and paying them millions of dollars?” Aretha Morgan, NYSNA director at large, said of NewYork-Presbyterian. The Medicaid cuts “are not an excuse,” she added.

The contract for the 20,000 nurses across NewYork-Presbyterian, Flushing Hospital, Mount Sinai and nine other private hospital systems across the five boroughs expires on Dec. 31.

— Claudia Irizarry Aponte

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Friday, August 15: Bassist and jazz legend William Parker plays a tribute to Duke Ellington, and vibraphonist Nikara Warren presents a collage of hip-hop, jazz, neo-soul, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latino music, in the latest Celebrate Brooklyn event. At the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, August 16: The circus is coming to Bryant Park, with the free New York City Circus Festival. See aerial performances, acrobatics, clowning and more, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, August 17: R&B singers Trey Songz, Mya and Bobby V give a free concert at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens. Doors open at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 17: Henry Street Settlement hosts free roller skating at Dry Dock Playground, including free skate rentals, a live DJ, basketball, crafts and more. From 1 to 6 p.m.

THE KICKER: It’s been 22 years since New York City — as well as Cleveland, Detroit and Toronto — went completely dark in one of the biggest power outages in memory. Go down memory lane with news clips from the time.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Friday.

Love,

THE CITY

PS. Love THE CITY? Our nonprofit newsroom is powered by readers like you. Donate here.

Want to view Scoop in your web browser? Click here.

THE CITY's work is made possible, in part, through the support of our sponsors. Interested in becoming a sponsor of THE CITY? Contact us here.  Copyright © 2024 THE CITY, All rights reserved.