11 Elected Officials Arrested While Trying to Access Cells at N.Y.C. ICE Facility

Federal officers arrested 11 Democratic elected officials inside a federal building in Lower Manhattan on Thursday after the officials demanded access to cells used by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to detain migrants.

The officials, including Brad Lander, the city comptroller, and city and state lawmakers, were arrested after they showed up at 26 Federal Plaza and sought to inspect the 10th-floor holding cells, which are operated by ICE and closed to the public. The cells have drawn scrutiny following complaints of unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, leading a federal judge to order ICE to improve the conditions last month.

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, denied the elected officials access and arrested them shortly after 3:45 p.m., after they sat down on the floor, refused to leave and began to chant after unfurling a banner that read: “NYers against ICE.”

At about the same time, another group of Democratic elected officials was arrested after the officials joined about 40 protesters outside 26 Federal Plaza attempting to block the garage doors typically used by ICE as it moves vans carrying detained immigrants. The arrested officials, including Jumaane D. Williams, the public advocate, sat down on the ground, chanting for the release of everyone in ICE custody and holding signs that said, “ICE out of NY.”

Federal facilities where immigrants are detained are primarily subject to the oversight of the federal government. Members of Congress have the right to visit and inspect such facilities as part of their role in conducting oversight of the executive branch. State and local lawmakers do not have the same statutory power.

ICE has previously denied Democratic members of Congress access to the 10th-floor holding cells, arguing that their oversight authority does not extend to the cells because they are temporary holding facilities in an ICE field office, not a detention center.

The coordinated displays of protest on Thursday, planned largely by members of the Democratic Party’s left flank, were the latest sign of opposition to President Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations, including in liberal, immigrant-heavy cities like New York.

Mr. Lander was briefly arrested at 26 Federal Plaza while escorting a migrant man whom ICE wanted to arrest in June, during his unsuccessful bid for mayor.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.