ICE officers has been accused of shoving reporters during arrest outside a New York courthouse on Tuesday; Homeland Security says agents were surrounded.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were filmed shoving and grabbing journalists during an arrest outside a New York courthouse on Tuesday, in an incident that has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant rights groups and elected officials.
Footage of the confrontation, circulated widely on social media, shows agents forcing reporters back as they attempted to document the arrest of a Peruvian national. The New York Immigration Coalition, which posted the video, described the incident as “an alarming attack on press freedom and the right to report.”
The clash comes amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement and the treatment of journalists covering law enforcement operations. In recent months, ICE has faced increasing scrutiny from advocacy groups who accuse the agency of aggressive tactics that intimidate communities and discourage media oversight.
Democratic lawmakers in New York were quick to condemn Tuesday’s events. “Targeting journalists for doing their job is unacceptable and dangerous,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who urged federal authorities to investigate. Other state and city officials echoed the call, warning that such incidents risk undermining trust in government institutions.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, offered a different version of events. A DHS spokesperson said the officers were “swarmed by agitators and members of the press” while attempting to carry out a lawful arrest, and that the agents acted to ensure their own safety.
The man taken into custody has been identified by ICE as a 36-year-old Peruvian citizen who had previously been ordered removed from the United States. His detention is part of what the agency described as routine enforcement operations.
Press freedom advocates argue that regardless of the arrest, the treatment of journalists raises broader concerns. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the reports “reflect a troubling pattern of law enforcement attempting to obstruct coverage of public events,” adding that accountability is essential in a democratic society.
New York, home to one of the country’s largest immigrant populations, has long been a focal point in disputes over federal immigration enforcement. Local officials have resisted cooperation with ICE, citing community trust and civil rights concerns.
As the video continues to circulate, pressure is mounting on federal authorities to clarify their policies and ensure reporters can cover immigration enforcement without interference. The confrontation, critics warn, highlights a growing tension at the intersection of immigration policy, civil liberties, and press freedom in the United States.
