Lawmakers Denied Access to ICE Detention Floor as Immigration Arrests Spark Outrage in Manhattan

Federal Oversight Blocked as Immigration Tensions Rise

Two U.S. Congressmembers were denied entry to a federal detention area inside Lower Manhattan’s 26 Federal Plaza on Sunday, fueling growing concerns about the treatment of detained immigrants and the transparency of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The attempted visit comes amidst a sharp rise in immigration-related arrests and nationwide anxiety over detention conditions.

Representatives Nydia Velázquez and Adriano Espaillat sought to conduct an inspection of the building’s 10th floor, where they believed detainees were being held. Although both lawmakers were allowed into the building, they were left waiting for nearly an hour in the lobby. Eventually, ICE officials informed them they would not be permitted to proceed further.

“We were denied that right today,” Espaillat told reporters gathered outside the building. “We will continue to come back. We will continue to ask for access. We deserve to know what’s going on.”

Velázquez emphasized the importance of congressional oversight, saying, “This is not Russia. This is the United States of America where we have three branches of government. What is it that they’re hiding?”

Mounting Concerns Inside 26 Federal Plaza

Reports have circulated among lawyers, families, and immigrant advocates about increasingly grim conditions inside the Manhattan facility. Detainees have allegedly been kept in overcrowded, overheated, and unsanitary cells without regular communication with family members or legal counsel.

Nationwide, ICE detention numbers have surged to over 51,000 people as of June 1 — a 31% increase since the beginning of the year. In Manhattan, the pace of arrests has intensified, with individuals being taken into custody immediately following routine court appearances or check-ins.

Previously, individuals detained in Manhattan were transferred promptly and allowed to contact family within 24 hours. However, with the spike in arrests, many families have gone days without updates. The ICE detainee locator now shows growing numbers of individuals still listed at 26 Federal Plaza with no further movement.

A Family Torn Apart

Outside the building on Saturday, a man named Nelson stood before a crowd of reporters holding a photograph of his friend Mayra. She was recently detained at an ICE check-in despite having an active asylum case, a work permit, and undergoing cancer treatment.

When Mayra was taken, her 5-year-old daughter was left stranded at school.

“They broke her family for no reason,” Nelson said, his voice full of emotion. “For what, to make Trump laugh? They’re going to put everyone in jail? What’s going on here? This is not America.”

Protests Escalate as Access Denied

The failed congressional visit came one day after a protest outside 26 Federal Plaza escalated into a tense standoff. Protesters attempted to block vehicles suspected of transporting detainees. Around 1:30 p.m., one such vehicle was stopped when demonstrators linked arms at the garage exit.

Federal agents in tactical gear tried to push them back but eventually retreated, forcing the van to reverse. The NYPD's Strategic Response Group later arrived, using barricades and pepper spray to disperse protesters. Over the course of the afternoon, police arrested 22 people as they cleared the area and allowed ICE operations to continue.

National Protests and Federal Response

The scene in Manhattan was just one example of rising tensions nationwide. In Los Angeles on Friday, protests broke out following a series of controversial workplace raids by federal agents dressed in camouflage. The scale of the protests prompted an aggressive federal response.

President Trump accused Democratic leaders of enabling chaos and announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later stated that Marines were on standby, prepared to intervene if necessary.

When Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the raids, Trump advisor Stephen Miller responded bluntly: “You have no say in this at all. Federal law is supreme and will be enforced.”

A Constitutional Clash in Real Time

The denial of congressional access and the use of force against peaceful protesters are becoming flashpoints in a broader national debate over immigration enforcement, constitutional oversight, and federal authority.

While advocates and families await answers, lawmakers are doubling down on efforts to gain entry and shed light on the conditions inside these detention centers.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Espaillat promised. “We owe it to the people we represent to demand transparency, to demand accountability — and to never stop asking what’s happening behind closed doors.”