Two New York representatives were denied access to a Manhattan ICE facility as protests raged outside, triggering a political clash over detention oversight and immigration policy.
At a Glance
- Representatives Espaillat and Velázquez were blocked from inspecting an ICE facility in Manhattan.
- The visit followed reports of overcrowding and poor conditions, including detainees sleeping on bathroom floors.
- ICE cited protocol, stating entry requires 24-hour notice, even for members of Congress.
- The denial came as protests outside the facility led to 22 arrests.
- Lawmakers vowed to continue pressing for access, citing constitutional oversight powers.
Oversight denied sparks fury
On Sunday, U.S. Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velázquez were denied access to the ICE detention center at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. Their unannounced visit followed disturbing reports of detainees enduring extreme heat and sleeping on bathroom floors.
“This is not Russia,” said Velázquez at a press conference outside. “The president of the United States is not a king… What is it that they are hiding?” Espaillat echoed the outrage, declaring, “We are members of Congress, duly elected… Our constitutional duty is to have oversight over these agencies.”
ICE officials defended the decision, noting that agency protocol requires at least 24 hours’ notice before allowing visits—even by federal lawmakers.
Watch a report: Lawmakers clash with ICE over denied access to detention facility.
Protests, arrests fuel political flashpoint
The confrontation came on the heels of widespread protests at the same location, where activists attempted to block ICE vehicles from transporting detainees. Video footage captured demonstrators clashing with police, leading to 22 arrests as tensions escalated over immigration enforcement.
Among the protesters was Santiago Castro, who said his father had recently been detained by ICE. The protests were organized by groups including the New York Immigration Coalition, which previously reported unsanitary and overcrowded conditions at the Tribeca facility.
The representatives’ visit was prompted by these reports, as well as concern over increasing deportation activity in New York.
Legal clash over congressional oversight
Espaillat and Velázquez argue that their legal authority as members of Congress gives them access to inspect any federal facility at any time. “Today ICE violated all of our rights,” Espaillat said. “We deserve to know what’s going on on the 10th floor.”
ICE, under the Department of Homeland Security, has consistently enforced a policy requiring lawmakers to schedule visits in advance—a measure they claim ensures operational safety and detainee privacy. Critics, however, view the move as a barrier to transparency.
The denied entry has amplified calls for congressional review of ICE protocols and may prompt a legal challenge. Both lawmakers have vowed to return and push for full accountability.
As protests continue and political pressure builds, the showdown over who gets to inspect America’s detention centers is just beginning.
