Immigration courts in New York City and New Jersey have closed for the day after people on-site tested positive for coronavirus, the Department of Justice announced.
The Varick Street immigration court — one of three Manhattan courts that remained open as of last week — closed for at least Tuesday, according to the Facebook page for the DOJ’s Executive Office for Immigration Review.
“Following notice of a person with a confirmed case of coronavirus in EOIR space, the New York – Varick Immigration Court is closed tomorrow,” the post from late Monday said.
Another post from early Tuesday notified people who normally go to the Varick location that they could file papers in the Elizabeth, NJ, location — but that one too was closed just hours later because a person who tested positive for COVID-19 was on premises.
“Due to a report of the presence of an individual with a test-confirmed coronavirus diagnosis, the Elizabeth Immigration Court will be closed for the rest of the day,” the EOIR said on its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.
The posts did not specify how long the closures would last.
Last Wednesday, nine immigration courts around the country closed amid concerns over the growing pandemic. Two of locations were in Manhattan.
The DOJ did not immediately return a request for comment.
