The Left is always looking for a photo-op. But they’re just not going to get it this time.
Because these Democrat Congressmen were forcibly removed from an ICE office.
ICE Denies Access to Democratic Lawmakers Amid Oversight Push
New York, NY – Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) reported Wednesday that they were barred from entering an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office within a New York immigration court building, following the arrest of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander the previous day.
The lawmakers, who had provided advance notice for their oversight visit, expressed frustration over the denial, highlighting ongoing tensions between ICE and congressional Democrats.
The incident unfolded at the 26 Federal Plaza building, where Goldman and Nadler intended to monitor immigration court proceedings and inspect holding cells on the 10th floor.
“Even though we are allowed to show up unannounced by statute, and we must be allowed in, we gave advance notice that we would be coming this morning, and they still denied our access,” Goldman said Wednesday morning. He challenged ICE’s assertion that the facility isn’t a “detention facility,” noting the statute permits access to any site housing immigrants.
Lander Arrest Sparks Concerns Over ICE Operations
The denied access came on the heels of Lander’s arrest, which occurred as he escorted an immigrant named Edgardo out of a hearing where the immigrant’s deportation challenge was denied pending appeal.
Lander, a Democratic mayoral primary candidate, was detained for about four hours on assault charges that were later dropped.
He denied any wrongdoing, but the episode fueled concerns about conditions inside the ICE office, with reports of detained immigrants sleeping on benches or the floor.
Nadler criticized ICE’s classification of the 10th-floor holding cells, calling it a “ridiculous” definition of a detention center.
“The question is: Why can’t we go in? What are they hiding?” Goldman added, reflecting unease about transparency. The presence of masked ICE and FBI agents during Lander’s restraint further intensified scrutiny, though ICE officials maintained their actions were within protocol to secure the facility.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Last week, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) was forcibly removed from a Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles after interrupting Secretary Kristi Noem to question the deployment of National Guard and Marines during recent riots.
Similarly, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) were denied entry to the South Loop ICE facility in Chicago on Tuesday, while Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) faced a similar rebuff in Newark in May, where her clash with officers led to a three-count indictment for alleged assault.
Lawmakers Vow to Press for Oversight
Goldman voiced alarm over ICE’s treatment of public officials, stating, “If they’re going to treat Comptroller Lander, if they’re going to treat Senator Padilla, if they’re going to treat Congresswoman McIver the way that these agents have been treating them, as if it’s a police state, out in the open in the public, how are they treating immigrants behind closed doors who have to sleep on floors for multiple nights?”
He pledged to leverage his role on the House Committee on Homeland Security to push the Trump administration for authorized access to 26 Federal Plaza.
Nadler suggested legal action might be necessary, saying, “We will take legal action to enforce our right to do these inspections.” Meanwhile, ICE has defended its operations, emphasizing its role in maintaining secure detention environments and enforcing immigration laws effectively.
