On September 18, 2025, more than a dozen New York state and local elected officials joined a protest at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan demanding access to inspect ICE holding cells on the 10th floor. They were responding to a court order that mandated improvements in the conditions for detainees—including reducing overcrowding, providing clean facilities, hygiene supplies, sleeping mats, legal communication access, and better oversight.
The protest escalated when officials and protesters were denied entry to the holding rooms and staged a sit-in inside the building. Among those arrested were Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senators Jabari Brisport and Julia Salazar, City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, as well as other state legislators. In total, about 70–80 people were arrested during demonstrations both inside and immediately outside the building.
The incident highlights growing friction between local leaders and federal immigration authorities over the treatment of detained immigrants. Protesters argue that ICE has repeatedly failed to meet basic requirements for humane treatment, despite judicial intervention. Authorities, including Homeland Security, called the action disruptive. The protest also underscored calls for transparency, accountability, and oversight in how immigration detention is handled.
