Eleven New York lawmakers were arrested inside Lower Manhattan’s federal building on Thursday after demanding access to a shadowy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding area that local officials say has operated beyond public scrutiny.
The arrests took place at 26 Federal Plaza following an hour-long standoff. City Comptroller Brad Lander, four state senators and six Assembly members refused repeated orders from Homeland Security police to leave the 10th floor hallway. They banged on locked doors, sat on the floor, and chanted before being led away in zip ties. All were released later in the day.
Among those detained were state Senators Julia Salazar, Jabari Brisport, Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, who invoked the recent arrest of a Queens restaurant worker. “I’m brokenhearted,” she said, holding back tears. “This is just one of many stories in my community.”
Lawmakers representing immigrant-heavy districts described residents too frightened to send their children to school or open their businesses. “Our neighbors are disappearing,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes. “We cannot permit this to continue.”
Unlike members of Congress, state and city officials have no legal authority to inspect ICE facilities. Yet even federal lawmakers, including Representatives Jerry Nadler and Adriano Espaillat, say they have been repeatedly denied access despite oversight rights guaranteed by law. Nadler and Espaillat are now suing for entry.
The lawmakers were charged with obstructing a federal entrance and must appear in court in November. Separately, NYPD officers arrested Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Council members Tiffany Cabán and Sandy Nurse, and other demonstrators blocking an ICE garage entrance.
Immigrant advocates say the crackdown is part of the Trump administration’s intensifying enforcement campaign, sparking clashes with Democrats nationwide.
