Monica Moreta Galarza felt relieved after her husband's routine immigration hearing at New York City's 26 Federal Plaza.

A judge had ordered Rubén Abelardo Ortiz López to return to court in May, and she believed that meant a reprieve from his potential deportation to Ecuador.

Instead, as soon as they stepped out of the courtroom with their children, she was torn from her husband's arms and thrown to the ground by immigration officers as they detained him.

One of them charged at me so aggressively that I was terrified, and he ended up throwing me to the ground, Ms Moreta Galarza told BBC News Mundo in Spanish. They treated us like animals.

The incident, which has since gone viral, led to one immigration agent being temporarily suspended. But it is not an isolated occurrence. The BBC witnessed similar incidents at the courthouse, while others – including an aggressive encounter between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the media – have sparked public outcry.

ICE's operations inside the building have created a charged, tense environment, attorneys said.

I would honestly sum it up as just traumatic, said Allison Cutler, a New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) attorney who works at 26 Federal Plaza.

It's traumatic for the clients we're serving, for the families getting ripped apart.

While many of the detentions at 26 Federal Plaza are swift and non-violent, reporters and lawyers have witnessed several chaotic episodes in recent weeks.

On a Tuesday in late August, the BBC watched as a dozen officers waiting outside a courtroom descended on a man, two women and a small boy. They quickly detained the man, and a melee ensued as the group fought to stay together.

Legal experts say this is an abuse of the courts system and puts immigrants into an impossible position. If they turn up for court hearings, as they are instructed to do, they could be arrested. But if they skip their court date, a judge could automatically order their deportation.

The government argues it has broad authority to detain people who are in the US illegally.

A New York Times/Siena poll found that the majority of respondents, 54%, supported deporting people who are here illegally. Over half (51%) felt the government was targeting the right people.

Many immigrants no longer show up to court, fearing arrest, leading to automatic deportation orders.

For those like Ms Moreta Galarza, the experience at the courthouse resonates painfully with the injustices they escaped in their home countries.