Dozens including New York elected officials arrested at ICE Manhattan facility protest

More than a dozen elected officials, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, two City Council members, and ten state legislators, were arrested during protests at the ICE holding facility at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. The officials demanded access to inspect the 10th-floor ICE holding cells, which have been cited by a federal judge for inhumane conditions, but were denied entry and subsequently arrested after refusing to leave and chanting outside the lockup. Protesters also blocked the building's garage entrance where ICE vans are kept, resulting in a total of approximately 71 arrests by city police and federal agents. The protests and arrests represent ongoing clashes between Democratic politicians and federal immigration authorities, with officials like Lander previously engaging in similar acts of civil disobedience against ICE. Homeland Security described the protests as stunts aimed at gaining media attention, while demonstrators emphasized their commitment to immigrant rights and compliance with court orders to improve detention conditions. This event highlights continuing tensions over immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration and the efforts by some elected officials to challenge ICE's operations.