Federal officers arrested 11 Democratic elected officials in a high-profile clash at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan on Thursday, as tensions escalated over conditions inside a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facility. The dramatic arrests came amid sit-ins and blockades by lawmakers and activists demanding access to inspect the detention area, just hours after a federal judge ordered sweeping changes to improve conditions.
The protest unfolded inside and outside the building, which houses a 10th-floor ICE holding center that has faced mounting legal scrutiny. The elected officials — including New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams and City Comptroller Brad Lander — joined dozens of demonstrators in what they described as “nonviolent civil disobedience” aimed at verifying compliance with the court's order.
According to The New York Times, the Department of Homeland Security denied entry to the lawmakers, prompting federal agents to make arrests inside the building. Outside, NYPD officers detained additional protesters, including Williams, during a blockade.
"This afternoon I faced arrest alongside dozens of New Yorkers in a nonviolent civil disobedience to demand oversight of ICE’s inhumane detention practices," Williams said in a statement released shortly after his release. Video from the scene showed officers escorting both officials and activists away in handcuffs, underscoring the rare intensity of the standoff.
While protesters outside block ICE vans from leaving @NYCComptroller, @JuliaCarmel__ and others are trying ti gain access to the 10th Floor of federal plaza.
— Kelly Mena (@KellyMena) September 18, 2025
The confrontation followed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction against ICE, ordering the agency to immediately improve holding conditions at the facility. The injunction expands on a prior temporary restraining order from August, citing serious concerns about constitutional violations stemming from overcrowding, poor sanitation, lack of sleeping space, and denial of timely legal communication.
Among the mandates: more personal space per detainee, access to hygiene supplies, sleeping mats, and prompt confidential access to legal counsel. The order reflects Kaplan’s conclusion that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in arguing that the facility’s conditions breach the U.S. Constitution.
The arrests mark the second high-profile confrontation between Lander and ICE agents this year. In June, the city comptroller was briefly detained during a separate protest at the same location, an incident widely circulated on social media and condemned by fellow officials.
While ICE has not issued a formal response to the arrests, and no charges have been publicly confirmed, the agency remains under increasing legal and political pressure to comply with the federal court's directives.