By Steve Neavling
Protests inside and outside Manhattan’s 26 Federal Plaza on Thursday ended with the arrests of more than a dozen elected officials demanding better treatment of migrants held in the building, Politico reports.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and 10 state legislators were zip-tied and escorted out after trying to inspect the 10th floor, which migrants have described as unsafe and unsanitary.
“Our neighbors are being illegally held and detained for longer than they are allowed to be, and we’re here to observe,” Lander told federal officers before he and his colleagues, including state Sens. Gustavo Rivera and Julia Salazar, were arrested.
Outside, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and at least one City Council member were among those detained as protesters chanted “ICE out of New York!” Homeland Security officials said 71 “agitators and sanctuary politicians” were arrested and that the building was briefly locked down because of a bomb threat.
The arrests came a day after a federal judge ordered ICE to continue improving conditions at 26 Federal Plaza, citing “unconstitutional and inhumane treatment.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the protest as a stunt.
“Brad Lander showed up … with agitators and media and proceeded to obstruct law enforcement and cause a scene,” she said.
House Democrats, including Reps. Dan Goldman, Adriano Espaillat, Nydia Velázquez and Jerry Nadler, have also been blocked from accessing the 10th floor. A lawsuit they filed against the Trump administration argues the restrictions violate federal law.
