Democratic Representatives Jerry Nadler and Daniel Goldman were blocked from entering an ICE facility in New York, raising questions about what officials are trying to hide as reports emerge of migrants sleeping on floors for days.
Key Takeaways
- New York Representatives Jerry Nadler and Daniel Goldman were denied access to an ICE processing center at 26 Federal Plaza despite congressional oversight authority.
- ICE Deputy Field Director Bill Joyce claimed the 10th floor facility is not a detention center but a “processing center,” though he admitted people are held there for days.
- The denial follows recent arrests at the same location, including NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander and a Nadler aide who were detained for interfering with ICE operations.
- The Trump administration has ramped up deportation efforts with a mandate for 3,000 arrests daily, focusing on quantity rather than targeting violent offenders.
- Congressional Democrats suspect the facility may be housing both documented and undocumented immigrants under potentially concerning conditions.
Democrats Blocked from ICE Facility Inspection
Representatives Jerry Nadler and Daniel Goldman attempted to conduct what they described as a routine congressional oversight visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan but were turned away by officials. The lawmakers had reportedly notified the facility of their planned visit but were still denied entry by ICE Deputy Field Director Bill Joyce, who claimed the 10th-floor facility was not subject to congressional oversight because it is classified as a “processing center” rather than a detention facility.
The congressmen expressed outrage at being denied entry, especially after reports surfaced that migrants were being forced to sleep on the floor of the facility for days. Both representatives argued that their constitutional duty to provide oversight was being obstructed. The incident marks the second time in recent weeks that members of Congress have been denied access to this particular ICE facility, following a similar refusal to Representatives Nydia Velázquez and Adriano Espaillat earlier this month.
Semantic Games and Detention Conditions
When confronted about the nature of the facility, ICE Deputy Field Director Bill Joyce engaged in what the congressmen characterized as semantic wordplay. Joyce insisted that while people were being held at the facility for multiple days and sleeping on the floor, it was not technically a detention center but rather a processing facility. This distinction was quickly challenged by Representative Goldman during their exchange outside the facility.
“You may choose to call it a detention facility because we’re keeping people longer — we’re housing them until they can be detained,” said Deputy Field Director Bill Joyce.
To which Goldman responded, “What’s the definition of a detention facility?” After being denied access to the 10th floor, the lawmakers were redirected to the 14th floor where they were permitted to attend court hearings but were unable to observe the actual detention conditions that had prompted their visit in the first place.
Political Context and ICE Enforcement
This confrontation comes amid the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts, which reportedly include a mandate for ICE to make 3,000 arrests daily. Critics argue this quota-based approach prioritizes numbers over targeting violent offenders. The facility in question has become a flashpoint for immigration activism, with NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander recently being detained by federal agents at the same location while escorting immigrants from court hearings.
“Congress has a duty to conduct oversight and the American people deserve transparency. ICE doesn’t get to lie about the nature of this facility to dodge oversight and hide behind masks while doing it,” said Representative Jerry Nadler.
The congressmen raised concerns about who exactly is being held at the facility, suggesting that both documented and undocumented immigrants might be detained there. Nadler specifically pointed out that without proper oversight, there’s no way to verify the legal status of those being processed through the facility.
Oversight Battle Continues
Both Nadler and Goldman have vowed to continue pursuing access to the facility. Their determination appears to be part of a broader effort by Democratic lawmakers to challenge what they see as a lack of transparency in immigration enforcement under President Trump. Goldman specifically questioned what ICE might be hiding by preventing elected officials from inspecting the conditions.
“We will not stop until we get to go in and observe what is going on in these detention centers. What are they hiding about this facility that they are using to house immigrants for multiple days?,” questioned Representative Daniel Goldman.
Conservative supporters of the administration’s immigration policies have criticized these congressional visits as political stunts designed to garner media attention rather than genuine oversight efforts. The ongoing tension highlights the deep divide over immigration enforcement priorities and the proper role of congressional oversight in monitoring federal agencies carrying out the President’s enforcement directives.
