New York has six EOIR immigration courts across four geographic locations: Batavia (western New York, detained), Buffalo (western New York, non-detained and DOC), Broadway in Manhattan, Federal Plaza in Manhattan, Varick Street in Manhattan, and Ulster in Napanoch (eastern New York, detained). Together they handle one of the largest immigration court caseloads in the country, with the Manhattan courts carrying a massive non-detained docket and Batavia and Ulster handling the detained populations.
Which court handles a specific case depends on where the person lives or is detained, which DHS office issued the charging document, and whether the person is on the detained or non-detained docket.
This page explains how New York's immigration courts work, how to find hearing information, and what the removal proceeding process looks like from start to finish.
New York's Six Immigration Courts
Batavia Immigration Court
Batavia Service Processing Center
4250 Federal Drive, Batavia, New York 14020
The Batavia court is located inside the Batavia Service Processing Center and handles detained cases there. It also covers Orleans County Correctional Facility and the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia. Hearings are conducted at the detention center.
Buffalo Immigration Court
Federal Building
111 West Huron Street, Room 228
Buffalo, New York 14202
The Buffalo court covers the Buffalo, New York DHS sub-office and has jurisdiction over the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Non-detained respondents in western New York whose cases originate from the Buffalo DHS sub-office appear here. Additional hearing locations include Elmira Correctional Facility, Wende Correctional Facility, Attica Correctional Facility, and Collins Correctional Facility.
New York - Broadway Immigration Court
26 Federal Plaza, Room 1237
New York, New York 10278
The Broadway court covers the New York City DHS District Office, including sub-offices. It handles a large volume of non-detained New York City area cases issued by the NYC DHS district.
New York - Federal Plaza Immigration Court
26 Federal Plaza, Room 1237
New York, New York 10278
Note: The Broadway and Federal Plaza courts share the same building at 26 Federal Plaza. Both cover the New York City DHS District Office. Federal Plaza handles assigned cases from the NYC district on its specific docket.
New York - Varick Street Immigration Court
201 Varick Street, Suite 1130
New York, New York 10014
The Varick Street court handles detained cases in the New York City area. Its jurisdiction includes the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey; Essex County Jail in Newark, New Jersey; Hudson County Jail in Kearny, New Jersey; Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, New York; Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York; Rockland County Jail in New City, New York; Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Yaphank, New York; and Westchester County Jail in Valhalla, New York.
Ulster Immigration Court
Eastern New York Correctional Facility
30 Napanoch Road, Napanoch, New York 12458
The Ulster court is located inside Eastern New York Correctional Facility in Napanoch (Ulster County, about 90 miles north of New York City). It handles detained cases at that facility and at Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie, New York.
Always use the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 or the hearing notice to confirm which court controls a specific case.
How Immigration Court Differs From Criminal Court
Immigration court is a civil proceeding, not a criminal one. Removal proceedings take place before an immigration judge employed by the Department of Justice through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The government is represented by a DHS attorney from the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA). The person in proceedings is called the respondent.
Being in removal proceedings is not a criminal charge and does not result in a criminal sentence. The outcome is either a grant of relief that allows the person to remain in the United States in some legal status, or a removal order directing them to leave. There is no jury. There is no public defender equivalent.
The respondent has the right to be represented by an attorney at their own expense. There is no right to a government-appointed attorney in immigration court except in narrow circumstances involving serious mental competency concerns. Not having a free attorney does not mean going without legal help. Legal aid organizations and nonprofits provide free or reduced-cost representation. Resources appear at the end of this page.
A word on notario fraud: in many countries, a notario publico is a licensed legal professional. In the United States, that title has no equivalent legal standing. Notarios, immigration consultants, and non-lawyers cannot represent people in immigration court and cannot legally provide immigration advice. Verify any representative's credentials before paying. Only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can appear in immigration court on someone's behalf.
The Removal Proceeding: Step by Step
Step one: The Notice to Appear
A removal proceeding begins when DHS issues a Notice to Appear (NTA). This is the charging document in immigration court. It identifies the grounds for removal and directs the person to appear before an immigration court. The NTA may or may not include a hearing date when served. If it does not, a separate hearing notice will arrive by mail.
Keeping the court and DHS informed of any address change is required by law. If a hearing notice goes to an old address and the respondent does not appear, the immigration judge can issue an in absentia order of removal. That order is very difficult to undo. Use Form EOIR-33 to update the court and separately notify DHS OPLA. Both must be done within five days of any move.
Step two: The Master Calendar Hearing
The first court appearance is a master calendar hearing. These are short administrative sessions where the immigration judge manages the case, confirms the respondent understands the charges and their rights, asks about legal representation, and sets the schedule. Multiple cases are heard in the same session.
At master calendar, the respondent enters a plea to the NTA charges, identifies forms of relief they intend to seek, and establishes a timeline for filing applications and evidence. If the respondent does not have an attorney at the first hearing, they can generally ask for additional time to find one.
Step three: The Individual Hearing
After master calendar, the case moves to an individual hearing, also called a merits hearing. This is the full evidentiary proceeding where the respondent presents their case for relief from removal. The judge hears testimony, receives evidence, and may question the respondent and witnesses. The DHS trial attorney presents the government's case. The judge then issues a decision.
Common forms of relief include asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, and voluntary departure. Whether any form of relief is available depends on the specific facts and immigration history of each case.
Step four: Bond Hearings
If a respondent is detained, they may request a bond hearing before an immigration judge. A bond hearing is separate from the removal hearing. The judge determines whether the respondent should be released pending their case, and at what bond amount, based on flight risk and danger to the community.
Not all detained respondents are eligible for a standard bond hearing. Those subject to mandatory detention under federal law do not have that right before an immigration judge. They may seek release through the federal courts via a habeas corpus petition.
For New York City area detained respondents, bond hearings go through the Varick Street court. For western New York detained respondents at Batavia, bond hearings go through the Batavia court. For eastern New York detained respondents at Ulster/Napanoch, bond hearings go through the Ulster court.
Step five: The Decision and Appeal
After the individual hearing, the immigration judge issues a written decision. If relief is granted, the respondent may remain in the United States under the granted status. If removal is ordered, the respondent has the right to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in Falls Church, Virginia.
A BIA appeal must be filed within 30 calendar days of the immigration judge's decision. Missing that deadline forfeits the right to appeal.
If the BIA affirms the removal order, the respondent may seek review in the federal circuit court. New York falls within the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. A petition for review must be filed in the Second Circuit within 30 days of the BIA's order.
How to Find Hearing Information
EOIR Automated Case Information System: 800-898-7180 (English and Spanish; TDD: 800-828-1120). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online: acis.eoir.justice.gov
The A-Number (Alien Registration Number) is required to look up case information. It appears on immigration documents and on any EOIR hearing notice.
EOIR court finder by ZIP code: justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings
Batavia Immigration Court: 4250 Federal Drive, Batavia, NY 14020
Buffalo Immigration Court: 111 West Huron Street, Room 228, Buffalo, NY 14202
New York - Broadway: 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1237, New York, NY 10278
New York - Federal Plaza: 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1237, New York, NY 10278
New York - Varick Street: 201 Varick Street, Suite 1130, New York, NY 10014
Ulster Immigration Court: 30 Napanoch Road, Napanoch, NY 12458
If You Miss a Hearing
Missing an immigration court hearing is one of the most serious events in a removal case. If a respondent does not appear at a scheduled hearing and has been properly notified, the immigration judge will typically issue an in absentia order of removal.
An in absentia order can sometimes be reopened, but only in limited circumstances: if the respondent did not receive proper notice, or if exceptional circumstances beyond their control prevented attendance. If a hearing has been missed, contact an immigration attorney immediately.
How Detention Connects to the Court Process
Detention and removal proceedings are separate matters. A person can be in removal proceedings without being detained (non-detained docket), or detained while their case moves through court (detained docket). The detained docket generally moves faster.
For families with a detained loved one in New York, the InmateAid guide to ICE detention in New York covers Batavia Service Processing Center, Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, Nassau County, Orange County, Rockland County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, and Ulster County facilities, including how to locate a detained person, visiting, phone, and money access.
Legal Resources for New York Respondents
The Legal Aid Society - legalaid.org | 212-577-3300 | New York City - Provides immigration legal services for detained and non-detained respondents in New York City.
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) - nylag.org | 212-613-5000 - Comprehensive immigration legal services for New York City area residents.
Immigration Equality - immigrationequality.org | 212-714-2904 - Immigration legal services especially for LGBTQ+ individuals nationally.
Volunteer Lawyers Project of Buffalo - vlpbuffalo.org | 716-847-0662 - Pro bono immigration legal services in western New York.
Catholic Migration Services - catholicmigration.org | 718-236-3000 | Brooklyn - Immigration legal services for Brooklyn and Queens.
CLINIC Affiliates - cliniclegal.org - Catholic Legal Immigration Network accredited organizations across New York. Search by ZIP code.
EOIR Free Legal Services List - justice.gov/eoir/free-legal-services-providers - Lists attorneys and organizations providing free or low-cost representation for each New York immigration court.
Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR) - Available through the EOIR website - Self-help materials for respondents navigating proceedings without an attorney.
This page provides factual information about the immigration court process as it applies to New York. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law is complex and individual circumstances vary significantly. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative for advice specific to your situation.
Immigration law and agency policy change. Court jurisdictions, hearing locations, and procedures are subject to change without notice. Always verify current court information using the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 or at justice.gov/eoir. The information on this page reflects conditions as of June 2026.