The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on administrative leave following an incident at a New York immigration court, where the officer was recorded pushing a woman to the ground. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that the officer’s conduct is under investigation, noting that it does not meet the professional standards expected of ICE personnel.
The widely circulated video shows a distressed woman approaching the ICE officer, who repeatedly says “adios” before forcibly pushing her backward and down to the ground. A separate video from a different angle captures the woman confronting the officer, during which she can be heard shouting “take me, take me!” in Spanish. Following the confrontation, the officer continues to shove her down the hallway, ultimately pushing her against a wall before ordering her to leave.
Context suggests that this incident occurred after federal agents attempted to take the woman’s husband into custody, while she and her daughter sought to prevent his arrest. The woman identified herself as being from Ecuador. Reports indicate that, under U.S. immigration policies during President Donald Trump’s administration, ICE officers have been apprehending immigrants within federal courthouses, with numerous arrests documented in New York City courthouses.
In response to the event, Congressman Dan Goldman, who represents the district that includes the New York courthouse, mentioned that the woman and her children had sought refuge in his office following the incident. He has called for the DHS to take appropriate disciplinary measures and develop strategies to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4w23yjzj1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss