ICE officials barred Representatives Jerry Nadler and Daniel Goldman from inspecting a detention center at 26 Federal Plaza, sparking accusations that the agency is deliberately hiding inhumane conditions where migrants are reportedly forced to sleep on floors for days.
Key Takeaways
- Representatives Jerry Nadler and Daniel Goldman were denied access to the 10th floor “processing center” at 26 Federal Plaza despite their congressional oversight authority
- ICE Deputy Field Director Bill Joyce claimed the facility wasn’t a detention center despite admitting people are held there for days and sleep on the floor
- The denied access follows recent arrests at the same facility, including NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander and a Nadler aide
- The Trump administration has intensified deportation efforts with a mandate for 3,000 arrests daily, prioritizing numbers over targeting violent offenders
- Both congressmen vowed to continue pursuing access to the facility, questioning what conditions ICE is attempting to hide from public view
Democrat Lawmakers Denied Entry to ICE Processing Center
In a move that highlights the ongoing tension between congressional oversight and immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, Representatives Jerry Nadler and Daniel Goldman were turned away from the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The congressmen had arrived to inspect what they described as a detention facility where immigrants are reportedly being held for extended periods. ICE Deputy Field Director Bill Joyce redirected them to the 14th floor instead, preventing them from seeing the actual detention conditions they sought to investigate.
Both lawmakers expressed outrage at being denied entry to a facility they have constitutional authority to inspect. Their attempt follows a pattern of similar denials, including one earlier this month involving U.S. Representatives Nydia Velázquez and Adriano Espaillat. The refusal raises serious questions about transparency in immigration enforcement operations and what conditions might be concealed from public view.
Semantic Games Over “Detention” Definition
At the heart of the controversy is a semantic dispute over whether the facility constitutes a detention center. While Joyce insisted the 10th floor is merely a “processing center,” he made a remarkable admission that undermined his own claim. When pressed by Goldman about how people are being held there for days and sleeping on the floor, Joyce responded with a contradictory statement that revealed the true nature of the facility.
“You may choose to call it a detention facility because we’re keeping people longer — we’re housing them until they can be detained,” said Bill Joyce, Deputy Field Director.
This verbal sleight-of-hand appears designed to circumvent congressional oversight by creating an artificial distinction between “processing” and “detention” despite functionally identical conditions. The lawmakers weren’t fooled by this bureaucratic maneuvering, with Goldman directly challenging Joyce by asking, “What’s the definition of a detention facility?” The exchange highlighted the apparent efforts to evade accountability through linguistic manipulation.
Recent History of Protests and Arrests
The congressmen’s denied entry follows several high-profile incidents at the same location. NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander was recently detained by federal agents while escorting immigrants from court hearings, though charges were later dropped. Additionally, one of Nadler’s own aides was detained for interfering with ICE operations, underscoring the contentious atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement at this facility.
“Congress has a duty to conduct oversight and the American people deserve transparency. ICE doesn’t get to lie about the nature of this facility to dodge oversight and hide behind masks while doing it,” said Jerry Nadler, Congressman.
These events occur against the backdrop of President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement policies, which include a mandate for ICE to make 3,000 arrests daily. Critics argue this numeric target prioritizes quantity over focusing on dangerous offenders, potentially sweeping up non-violent immigrants and even those with legal status, as Nadler pointed out during his press conference.
Constitutional Oversight Authority Challenged
Both congressmen framed the denial as an unacceptable challenge to constitutional separation of powers. Their oversight role is firmly established in law, making the facility’s refusal particularly troubling from a governance perspective. Goldman emphasized this point by highlighting the unprecedented nature of being barred from conducting legitimate congressional oversight of a federal agency.
“We will not stop until we get to go in and observe what is going on in these detention centers. What are they hiding about this facility that they are using to house immigrants for multiple days?,” said Daniel Goldman, Congressman.
The lawmakers’ persistence in seeking access reflects growing concerns about treatment of immigrants under strengthened enforcement policies. While ICE officials remained largely silent about specific allegations, their reluctance to allow congressional inspection only intensifies suspicions about conditions within the facility. The situation represents a clear example of the administration’s prioritization of aggressive immigration enforcement over transparency and oversight, raising constitutional questions about executive branch accountability.
