An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been relieved of his duties after a disturbing incident was captured on video at a federal courthouse in New York City on Thursday. The video, which has drawn significant attention, shows the agent pushing a woman as she pleads for assistance regarding her husband’s detention. This incident is currently under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as confirmed by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in an interview with ABC News.
The footage reviewed by ABC News depicts a harrowing scene where the woman expresses her anguish, stating, "you don't care about anything," while her husband is being detained by ICE agents. In a shocking turn of events, the agent can be heard saying "Adios" before forcefully shoving the woman against a wall, leading to both of them falling to the ground. As the woman cries out, her children can be seen surrounding her, visibly distressed by the events unfolding around them.
In her statement, McLaughlin emphasized that the behavior exhibited by the officer is "unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE." She reiterated that all ICE law enforcement personnel are expected to adhere to the highest professional standards. As a result, the agent involved has been temporarily relieved of his duties while a thorough investigation is conducted.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was present at the federal building during the incident, shared his perspective on social media. Although he did not witness the confrontation directly, Lander revealed that the woman’s husband had been detained mere moments before she was pushed to the ground. He noted that the agents involved did not identify themselves, present a warrant, or provide any lawful justification for the detention. Following the incident, the woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat representing New York, also commented on the incident. He stated that the woman, identified as Monica, and her two young children sought refuge in his office following the altercation. Goldman condemned the actions of the ICE agent, labeling it an "egregious act of excessive force," and called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to implement appropriate disciplinary measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
A spokesperson for NYC Mayor Eric Adams expressed concern regarding the incident, noting that the images of the federal agent pushing the woman to the ground are troubling. The spokesperson highlighted that the safety of the entire city is compromised when immigrants feel afraid to access essential services or attend court hearings.
This incident has sparked widespread outrage and has raised critical questions about the conduct of federal immigration agents. As the investigation unfolds, there is a growing call from community leaders and lawmakers for accountability and reform within ICE to ensure that such incidents do not repeat in the future.
