(DailyChive.com) – Democratic lawmakers were locked out of a federal immigration facility in Manhattan as the Biden administration continues its pattern of hiding the truth about America’s immigration crisis from elected officials and the public.
Key Takeaways
- Democratic Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velázquez were denied access to inspect an ICE facility in Manhattan despite their Congressional oversight responsibilities
- The denial came after weekend protests where 22 demonstrators were arrested while attempting to block ICE from enforcing immigration laws
- The Biden administration claimed the facility is “not a detention center” despite reports of immigrants being detained there after court appearances
- ICE operations have targeted illegal immigrants attending court hearings, including a Queens high school student who was detained during an asylum hearing
- Similar protests in Los Angeles resulted in over 40 arrests, showing the nationwide scope of resistance to immigration enforcement
Democrats Denied Access to ICE Facility
In a telling display of the Biden administration’s lack of transparency, two Democratic members of Congress were denied access to a federal immigration facility in Lower Manhattan on June 9, 2025. Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velázquez arrived unannounced at 26 Federal Plaza to investigate claims of overcrowded detainment conditions and reports of immigrants being apprehended while attending court hearings. After waiting for an hour in the lobby, federal officials refused them entry to the 10th-floor facility, citing “ongoing law enforcement operations.”
The lawmakers’ visit wasn’t random – it followed a weekend of protests against immigration raids that resulted in clashes with police and multiple arrests. The denial of access raises serious questions about what conditions the Biden administration is trying to hide from elected officials tasked with oversight responsibilities. Rep. Velázquez didn’t mince words about the situation, asking, “What is it that they’re hiding? They are apprehending people that are following the rules.”
Weekend Protests Erupt as ICE Enforces Immigration Laws
The Congressional visit came in the wake of significant unrest, with 22 arrests during a June 7 protest where demonstrators attempted to block ICE vehicles from leaving the facility. The protesters confronted plainclothes ICE agents wearing masks and were eventually pepper-sprayed during scuffles with NYPD officers who were simply trying to maintain order. These protests highlight the growing resistance to immigration enforcement under the Biden administration, which has created policies that encourage illegal immigration while simultaneously conducting enforcement actions that anger their progressive base.
Protesters specifically highlighted cases like a Queens high school student detained during an asylum hearing and immigrants being arrested immediately after court appearances. The fact that taxpayer dollars are being used to provide education and services to illegal immigrants, only for some to be later detained, showcases the incoherent and wasteful immigration policies currently in place. Similar demonstrations in Los Angeles saw ICE deploy flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets as protesters attempted to prevent the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.
Biden Administration’s Contradictory Response
In a statement that defies common sense, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that 26 Federal Plaza is “not a detention center” but merely offered to schedule a tour for the lawmakers at a later date. This bureaucratic doublespeak attempts to hide the reality that illegal immigrants are indeed being detained at the facility after court appearances. The administration claimed the lawmakers’ unannounced visit disrupted “sensitive law enforcement items,” yet these are the very elected officials tasked with overseeing these operations.
ICE maintains its operations focus on individuals with final deportation orders, though advocates argue tactics now target people complying with legal processes. This contradiction exemplifies the Biden administration’s approach to immigration: encouraging illegal border crossings with lax policies while simultaneously conducting enforcement actions that anger their progressive supporters. The result is chaos, with American taxpayers footing the bill for this mismanagement.
Sanctuary Cities Feeling the Impact
The conflict at 26 Federal Plaza reflects the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement, particularly in sanctuary cities like New York that have invited this crisis through their policies. The facility has become a flashpoint as immigrants risk detention when attending required hearings, creating a situation where the very sanctuary policies meant to protect illegal immigrants are now putting them at risk of deportation. This irony is lost on the progressive politicians who created this mess in the first place.
At least two NYC public school students have been detained since policy changes in 2025, highlighting how American taxpayers are funding education for illegal immigrants who may ultimately face deportation. The use of crowd control measures like pepper spray and flash-bangs during demonstrations shows how the situation has escalated to the point where law enforcement must take significant measures to maintain order. All of this could have been avoided with sensible border policies and immigration enforcement from the beginning.
The events underscore deepening divisions between federal immigration policies and local officials in sanctuary cities like New York. With both sides accusing the other of procedural violations, transparency concerns at facilities like 26 Federal Plaza remain unresolved. American citizens are caught in the middle, paying for both the costs of illegal immigration and the enforcement actions required to address it – a lose-lose situation created by failed progressive policies.
Copyright 2025, DailyChive.com
