Congressman Responds To Aide Being Detained
In a dramatic and politically charged incident captured on video, federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detained an aide to New York Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler inside his Manhattan congressional office. The office, notably located in the same building as an immigration courthouse and other DHS operations, became the epicenter of confusion, confrontation, and accusations of federal overreach.
According to a DHS statement, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) responded after receiving reports of “protesters present” inside the federal building. The agency claims officers were acting on concerns for the safety of federal employees, especially given "earlier incidents in a nearby facility."
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) May 31, 2025
Upon entering the building—apparently with consent—the officers encountered four individuals and announced they were conducting a “security check.” It was during this process that tensions flared.
One individual, later confirmed to be a Nadler staffer, allegedly became “verbally confrontational and physically blocked access” to an office. Video from the scene shows her being handcuffed and visibly distressed, while another staffer in a private office demanded a warrant from officers attempting to enter.
BREAKING: ICE and DHS raided Democrat Rep. Jerry Nadler’s office following accusations that he helped and harbored rioters. pic.twitter.com/Su1aqfbbsQ
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 1, 2025
The agent's response: “I’m a federal officer. We’re here checking on something. We have the right to check.”
The situation quickly escalated. A Nadler staffer had reportedly invited outside immigration advocates into the office, following threats from ICE officers directed at those monitoring activity at the courthouse. DHS agents allegedly accused the staff of “harboring rioters,” an explosive charge that sparked backlash.
Rep. Nadler later blasted the incident in a statement to POLITICO, calling it an example of the DHS “sowing chaos” and using “intimidation tactics”:
“In the most recent and deeply troubling incident, DHS agents forcefully entered my Congressional office and handcuffed a member of my staff,” Nadler said. “I am alarmed by the aggressive and heavy-handed tactics DHS is employing in New York City and across the country.”
While the staffer was reportedly released shortly after the encounter, the incident didn’t end there. Protestors gathered outside the building, rallying against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and decrying the DHS’s handling of the situation. According to witnesses, ICE officers had threatened to arrest advocates and those who were monitoring ICE operations, a claim that raises fresh concerns about the chilling effect on public oversight of immigration enforcement.
DHS has maintained that the staffer was detained solely to complete the security check and that “all were released without further incident.” The staffer later confirmed in an interview with the Gothamist that “everything resolved.”