NYC Democrats Detained by DHS Near Manhattan Immigration Courts During Protest

"A federal agent detains New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and other elected officials.Yuki Iwamura / AP

New York City – September 19, 2025In a dramatic escalation of tensions over federal immigration enforcement, 11 Democratic elected officials in New York City were briefly detained by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents on Thursday during a sit-in protest at 26 Federal Plaza, the Lower Manhattan federal building housing immigration courts and ICE holding facilities.The arrests, part of a larger demonstration that saw 77 people detained in total, were in response to denied access to inspect detainee conditions on the building's 10th floor, where migrants face deportation proceedings.The action underscores growing clashes between local progressive leaders and the Trump administration's aggressive deportation policies.

The group, led by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and including 10 state lawmakers—all Democrats—arrived unannounced to demand oversight of the holding area, citing a recent federal court order mandating improvements in detainee treatment.Organized by advocacy groups like Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), the officials unfurled a banner and staged a sit-in outside the cells after being turned away, refusing to leave until granted entry. Among those detained inside were State Senators Julia Salazar, Jabari Brisport, and Gustavo Rivera, as well as Assembly members Jessica González-Rojas, Marcela Mitaynes, Emily Gallagher, Claire Valdez, Tony Simone, Robert Carroll, and Steven Raga.

Simultaneously, outside the building, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and City Council members Sandy Nurse and Tiffany Cabán joined about 40 protesters in blocking the garage entrance used by ICE transport vans, chanting "Immigrants are welcome here" and "ICE out of New York!" New York Police Department officers and federal agents arrested the group, contributing to the overall tally of detentions.

 All elected officials were released within an hour, issued federal citations for "unreasonably obstructing the usual use of entrances," and ordered to appear in Manhattan federal court in November.

The protests were sparked by a federal judge's extension this week of a temporary restraining order from August, following a lawsuit by immigration and civil rights groups.The order requires ICE to provide detainees with at least 50 square feet of personal space, three meals a day, clean bed mats, sanitary products, and confidential access to attorneys if held longer than a day.Detainees have reported dire conditions, including being fed "inedible slop," enduring a "horrific stench" from open toilets mixed with sweat and urine, and sleeping on the floor without mattresses or hygiene items in overcrowded rooms holding up to two dozen people.Cellphone videos from last month captured men crammed into hold rooms with thermal blankets but no padding.

DHS maintains the 10th floor is a short-term processing area, not a formal detention center, exempt from certain oversight rules, and houses individuals facing deportation for serious crimes like weapons offenses, drug trafficking, and unauthorized drone flights near the White House.Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin sharply criticized the protesters, particularly Lander—who was previously detained at the same site in June while escorting a migrant from court—accusing him of arriving with "agitators and media" and yelling he wouldn't leave without releases, endangering personnel. "Another day, another sanctuary politician pulling a stunt in an attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame," McLaughlin stated.

Following their release, the officials held a press conference outside the building, with Lander emphasizing oversight responsibilities: "We have a right and a responsibility to oversee how taxpayer dollars are spent, including on these facilities." State Sen. Jabari Brisport chanted defiantly during his detention, while Assembly member Jessica González-Rojas declared New York communities are being "terrorized by federal agents." State Rep. Tony Simone vowed, "We will be back here time and time again... ICE is not welcome in our state."

Organizers announced another protest for September 25.

This incident is part of a nationwide pattern of Democratic officials confronting federal immigration actions under President Trump, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's arrest in May and ongoing charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) for allegedly assaulting officers during a similar protest. House Democrats like Reps. Dan Goldman, Adriano Espaillat, Nydia Velázquez, and Jerry Nadler have repeatedly been denied access to the facility despite congressional oversight claims.The building went into lockdown later Thursday due to a bomb threat, further heightening the atmosphere of confrontation.

As #AbolishICE trends on social media with posts amplifying the arrests and calls for resistance, the events at 26 Federal Plaza highlight the deepening divide over immigration in urban strongholds like New York, where federal raids have led to hundreds of detentions this summer.With more actions planned, the standoff shows no signs of abating.