An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has been placed on leave and is under investigation following an incident where he was seen pushing a woman to the ground at a New York immigration court. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the officer’s actions were unacceptable and did not meet the high standards expected of their law enforcement personnel.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows the woman approaching the officer in a hallway. After repeated remarks of “adios,” the officer forcefully pushed her backward, causing her to fall. The officer then stood over her and told her to leave.
Further footage from a different angle revealed the woman shouting in Spanish, “take me, take me!” as the officer forced her down the hallway and against a wall before pushing her to the ground. Bystanders were present, and the woman was later seen being escorted from the courthouse.
This incident occurred amidst increased ICE activity in federal courthouses as part of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Reports indicate that hundreds of immigrants have been apprehended in New York City courthouses alone.
A local congressman, Dan Goldman, whose district includes the courthouse, expressed his concern, stating that the woman and her children sought safety in his office after the assault. He urged the DHS to take appropriate disciplinary measures and implement policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.