Editor’s note: It’s more imperative than ever to document the actions of masked ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza

For the past few years, chaos has reigned at 26 Federal Plaza, home to the city’s immigration courts in lower Manhattan. This is where immigrants are called for their asylum or deportation hearings, amid long lines of people waiting outside to pass through security checks and, later, crowds inside. Immigrants must figure out what courtroom they have to report to, and on time, otherwise they risk triggering deportation proceedings. Many arrive without legal representation. Their sense of urgency cannot be overstated, and the need for journalists to have access to the courts has never been greater. The atmosphere within this monolith of bureaucracy has worsened, in part due to the heightened presence of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Masked ICE agents have violently detaine