The protest and ongoing occupation of an ICE building in lower Manhattan has caused federal immigration authorities to halt some operations at the facility, including all bond hearings scheduled for Monday at the Varick Street Immigration Court.
In an email sent out late Sunday, immigration attorneys were informed by Department of Justice officials that “there will be no cases heard at Varick Street on Monday due to the protests.” An ICE spokesperson did not respond to inquiries about whether agents were still using the building, but a rep from the Department of Justice confirmed the closure.
The interruption in cases comes four days after protesters with the growing “Occupy ICE” movement began gathering on the loading docks of the 201 Varick Street building, which serves as both a processing center and temporary detention facility for immigrants arrested in the city.
