ICE Officer Relieved of Duties After Video Shows Altercation with Woman Outside NYC Immigration Court

A federal immigration officer has been relieved of his duties pending an investigation after a video surfaced showing him pushing a woman to the ground outside an immigration court in New York City. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the action on Friday.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated, "Our ICE law enforcement are held to the highest professional standards and this officer is being relieved of current duties as we conduct a full investigation."

The incident occurred at the 26 Federal Plaza federal building in lower Manhattan. Videos circulating on social media depict a woman and her young daughter attempting to cling to her husband as federal agents sought to detain him. The footage shows agents separating the family, with one agent appearing to grab the woman's hair. The man was ultimately taken into custody.

Subsequent footage shows the woman confronting the ICE officer involved. The officer is seen shoving the woman, causing her to fall to the ground in front of her children and onlookers, including photojournalists and court officials. During the altercation, the officer is heard saying "adios" multiple times.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander commented on the incident, stating that the woman "did not pose any threat" to justify the officer's actions and noted she had to be taken to the hospital.

The woman involved identified her family as being from Ecuador.

Under the current administration, ICE officers have been deployed to immigration courts nationwide to arrest individuals attending their hearings. This practice has been criticized by advocates and Democratic leaders, who argue it undermines due process and deters individuals from participating in the immigration process.

The DHS has initiated a full investigation into the incident to determine appropriate actions moving forward.