Federal Agents Clash with Journalists at NYC Immigration Court, One Hospitalized

On Tuesday, federal agents at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan engaged in a physical altercation with journalists covering immigration proceedings, leading to one journalist's hospitalization. The incident occurred as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were arresting a woman who had just exited immigration court.

Visual journalist L. Vural Elibol of the Turkish news agency Anadolu was pushed to the floor by agents, causing him to hit his head. Witnesses reported that a bystander assisted Elibol until medical personnel arrived; he was subsequently transported to the hospital wearing a neck brace. Two other journalists, Dean Moses of amNewYork and freelance photographer Olga Fedorova, were also shoved but did not sustain serious injuries.

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the agents' actions, stating they were being "swarmed by agitators and members of the press, which obstructed operations." She added, "Officers repeatedly told the crowd of agitators and journalists to get back, move, and get out of the elevator."

Dean Moses recounted that he was attempting to photograph the arrest when agents forcibly removed him from the elevator. He stated, "I walked into the elevator behind them, and they started screaming at me. Then they pushed me, grabbed me by my arms, and started pulling me out of the elevator. I tried to hold on, but I got shoved out."

Olga Fedorova noted that journalists had been working in the hallway outside the immigration court for months without prior incidents. She mentioned that the agents did not announce any restrictions or indicate they were making an arrest when they entered the elevator. "If they tell us to get out, to not cross a certain line, we follow their orders," Fedorova said. "In this case, it was not clear to anyone that this was a detention at all."

The incident has drawn criticism from elected officials. New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the agents' use of force, stating, "This abuse of law-abiding immigrants and the reporters telling their stories must end. What the hell are we doing here?" State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani also criticized the actions, saying, "We cannot accept or normalize what has now become routine violence at 26 Federal Plaza. It has no place in our city."