Incident:2025-09-18 New York NY Federal Plaza Arrest of Elected Officials
| Date | 2025-09-18 |
|---|---|
| Time | Afternoon |
| City | New York |
| County | New York County |
| State | New York |
| Country | United States |
| Location details | 26 Federal Plaza, Manhattan (federal office building) |
| Facility | 26 Federal Plaza |
| Agencies involved | U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) |
| Operation type | Arrest / civil disobedience enforcement |
| Status | Verified (multiple independent news sources; public statements by DHS) |
| People affected | 11 elected officials (New York City and New York State) |
| Arrests reported | 11 (inside federal building) |
| Detentions reported | 11 (temporary federal processing) |
| Deportations | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 (publicly reported) |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Agents at the scene | Vitale, Dominick; Krejci, William |
| Vehicles at the scene | |
| Verification | Video footage; DHS confirmation; contemporaneous reporting |
| Key sources | * “State and city lawmakers arrested at 26 Federal Plaza” (City & State NY)
|
Summary:
On September 18, 2025, eleven New York City and New York State elected officials were arrested inside the federal office building at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan during a protest related to immigration enforcement and detention conditions. The officials were participating in a sit-in after being denied access to areas of the building used by ICE for holding individuals following immigration court proceedings.
Full description
The incident occurred during a coordinated protest by elected officials, advocates, and community members seeking oversight of detention conditions inside 26 Federal Plaza, a federal building that houses immigration courts and offices used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The officials stated they were attempting to inspect compliance with recent court orders and long-standing concerns regarding overcrowding and treatment of migrants held inside the facility.
After being denied access to restricted areas of the building, the elected officials remained seated in a hallway inside the federal building. Federal authorities subsequently detained and arrested eleven officials for allegedly obstructing the normal use of the facility. Video and eyewitness accounts show officials being escorted to upper floors of the building for processing.
Those arrested were issued federal summonses and released the same day. No injuries were reported, and no criminal charges beyond federal violations related to building access were publicly announced at the time.
The Department of Homeland Security later confirmed the arrests, stating that the individuals had refused lawful orders to disperse. Protesters and the arrested officials characterized the action as peaceful civil disobedience conducted in the course of their duties as elected representatives.
Agencies and units involved
- DHS – Department of Homeland Security (lead authority)
- ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (facility operations and enforcement presence)
- Federal Protective Service (FPS) – building security and arrests
Agents
Timeline
- 2025-09-18 — Elected officials denied access to ICE-controlled areas at 26 Federal Plaza; sit-in begins inside building.
- 2025-09-18 — Eleven elected officials arrested and processed inside the federal building.
- 2025-09-18 — DHS confirms arrests; officials released with federal summonses.
Sources
- City & State NY: [1](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/09/state-and-city-lawmakers-arrested-26-federal-plaza/408218/)
- Associated Press: [2](https://apnews.com/)
- ABC7 New York: [3](https://abc7ny.com/)
Notes
- The arrests took place inside a federal building rather than on public streets.
- No allegations of physical force or injury involving the elected officials have been substantiated in public reporting.
- The incident occurred amid heightened scrutiny of immigration court detention practices at 26 Federal Plaza.