An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has been relieved of his duties pending an internal investigation after a physical altercation outside an immigration court in New York City, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Friday.
The incident occurred at the 26 Federal Plaza federal building in lower Manhattan and was captured in multiple videos that circulated widely on social media Thursday. Footage shows a woman and her young daughter attempting to hold onto her husband as federal agents moved to detain him. In the process, agents forcibly separated the family, with one officer appearing to grab the woman by the hair. The man was ultimately taken into custody.
A separate video shows the woman confronting the ICE officer at the center of the investigation. He is seen shoving her to the ground in front of her children, photojournalists, and federal and court officials.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin condemned the officer’s behavior, stating it was “unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE.” The department has launched a formal inquiry into the incident.
The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of enforcement practices and the treatment of families during immigration proceedings. ICE has not released further details but confirmed that the officer will remain off duty while the investigation is ongoing.
