Newly released internal communications and court testimony have shed light on serious concerns over conditions inside a makeshift Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility located on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan.

The site, which is used to temporarily hold migrants after arrest and before transfer to longer-term facilities, has reportedly been operating well beyond its intended capacity.

According to officials’ emails and statements, as many as 100 detainees at a time were being held in small holding rooms, with numbers later rising even higher as arrests continued.

Some ICE personnel described the situation in stark terms, calling it “insane,” “unsafe,” and a “gross contagion,” while also warning colleagues about deteriorating conditions and medical risks.

Detainees and witnesses testified in court that individuals were forced to sleep on cement floors using emergency blankets, often in overcrowded rooms with limited access to sanitation, food, or medical care.

Some accounts described people being held for days or even weeks despite internal guidance stating that the facility is intended for short stays of no more than 12 hours.Medical incidents, including seizures and contagious illnesses, were also reported, raising further concerns among staff.

A federal judge overseeing a trial on detention conditions has already ordered limits on overcrowding, reducing permissible capacity based on floor space per person.However, internal messages suggest the facility struggled to comply shortly after the order was issued.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of substandard conditions, insisting that detainees receive adequate care and legal access.

The case has become a focal point in broader debates over immigration enforcement practices, particularly the arrest of individuals immediately after court hearings or ICE check-ins.

Legal advocates argue that the overcrowding crisis was foreseeable given current enforcement policies and insufficient detention capacity in the region.