ICE Agents Shove Journalists at New York Immigration Court, One Hospitalized

Masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents forcibly removed journalists covering an arrest at a New York City immigration court on Tuesday morning, resulting in one journalist being hospitalized. The incident occurred at 26 Federal Plaza, where journalists were documenting an arrest when they were confronted by ICE agents.

In a video of the encounter, a masked agent grabbed AM New York journalist Dean Moses from an elevator while shouting at him to get out. Another agent pushed freelance photojournalist Olga Fedorova, causing her and another photojournalist, L. Vural Elibol of the Anadolu Agency, to fall to the ground. Elibol hit his head and was later seen being treated by emergency medical personnel, placed in a neck brace, and wheeled out on a stretcher.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that the agents were "swarmed by agitators and members of the press, which obstructed operations." She added, "Rioters and sanctuary politicians who encourage individuals to interfere with arrests are actively creating hostile environments that put officers, detainees, and the public in harm’s way."

The incident has drawn criticism from various quarters. Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, condemned the actions, stating, "ICE brutalizes New Yorkers every day without any accountability. Whether it’s family members attending court, community members offering court watch support, or journalists exercising their constitutional right to document events, ICE has shown a blatant disregard for human dignity and safety."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also criticized the incident, sharing the video on social media and commenting, "This abuse of law-abiding immigrants and the reporters telling their stories must end. What the hell are we doing here?"

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for accountability, stating, "This is just the latest outrage in a string of documented violence against law-abiding people exercising their rights. Americans cannot and should not tolerate unaccountable masked secret police. These agents need to be identified by DHS and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

This confrontation is part of a series of recent incidents involving ICE agents at the same location. Just days prior, an ICE officer was captured on video pushing a woman to the ground at 26 Federal Plaza. That officer was initially relieved of duties but has reportedly been reinstated.

The incident underscores the escalating tensions surrounding ICE's enforcement tactics and their interactions with the press and public in New York City.