Nation Rise reports that U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ordered New York City to comply with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement subpoena for limited data from a Bronx shelter roster, with the court narrowing the request and appointing a special master to screen residents tied to specified serious criminal histories.
What the judge allowed
According to Nation Rise, the court found the information relevant to an ongoing immigration-enforcement inquiry and, with modifications, said it had “no choice but to compel” compliance. The ruling, as described by Nation Rise, requires the city to provide only names and dates of birth—not full case records—after a special master filters the list to those connected to listed serious offenses.
How the scope was narrowed
Nation Rise reports that the federal government agreed to limit the subpoena to residents linked to certain serious criminal histories and to route screening through a court-appointed special master. That approach, per Nation Rise, is intended to keep most names off federal desks while allowing checks on a smaller, higher-risk subset.
The city’s objections and sanctuary rules
As summarized by Nation Rise, New York City argued the request was unduly burdensome and conflicted with its sanctuary framework. Nation Rise notes the judge rejected the burden claim. The outlet also describes New York City’s Executive Order 13, which restricts non-local law enforcement access to non-public city spaces without a judicial warrant and seeks to shield city-collected information unless disclosure is legally required.
What data is in play—what is not
Per Nation Rise, the subpoena is limited to two identifiers: names and birth dates from a Bronx shelter roster. It does not include social service notes, medical information, or full files. The order enforces subpoena power; it is not a finding on deportation for any individual, according to Nation Rise.
Timeline and open questions
Nation Rise states that ICE initially served a broader subpoena in August 2025, later narrowing the request after city objections and accepting special-master screening. The outlet adds that the full list of qualifying offenses was not publicly detailed. Nation Rise highlights that the ruling’s real impact will depend on the screening criteria, the accuracy of shelter rosters, and subsequent enforcement steps.
