A journalist was hospitalized after an intense ICE agents confrontation occurred in a public elevator at 26 Federal Plaza while they attempted to take photographs. The incident involved ICE officers shoving photojournalists, resulting in one journalist needing medical attention and transport by ambulance.
Details of the Incident
Video footage shows two ICE officers wearing ski masks pushing two photojournalists to the ground inside the public elevator. One of the journalists fell onto a third photographer, who works for a Turkish media outlet. That journalist remained on the floor for approximately 30 minutes before being carried out of the building on a stretcher with a neck brace and then taken to a hospital.
This event is part of a series of confrontations involving ICE officers and members of the press at the same courthouse, including a previous incident where an ICE officer pushed a woman to the ground after her husband’s hearing. The Department of Homeland Security had responded by temporarily relieving that officer of duty, condemning the conduct as beneath the standards expected of ICE personnel.
Reactions and Implications
The violent encounters with journalists have prompted calls for accountability and reforms. New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the abuse of law-abiding immigrants and emphasized the importance of protecting reporters who document these stories. The escalating tensions between ICE agents and media representatives raise concerns about press freedom and the treatment of immigrants during enforcement actions.
As investigations continue, this incident highlights ongoing challenges in balancing law enforcement duties with civil rights and press protections in public spaces.