Video shows ICE agent shoving distressed woman outside NYC immigration court as husband is detained

A video circulating on social media shows a plainclothes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shoving a distressed woman to the floor outside a New York City immigration court moments after her husband was detained by federal agents. The footage, shared by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, captures the woman pleading in Spanish as masked agents move her husband away from the family outside the building.

The man was detained by immigration authorities “seconds earlier,” according to Lander, who said the agents did not identify themselves or present a warrant. In the clip, the woman reaches for the officer’s arm and pleads, “Please take me too.” She adds, “They are going to kill him. They pulled my hair. You guys don’t care about anything.” In response, the officer shoves her with both hands into a wall, then slams her to the ground as he is heard saying “adios, adios.” The woman’s young daughter is shown crying as witnesses rush to her side. Court security later arrives to remove the distraught mother, who was later placed in an ambulance and taken to a hospital. Lander said the woman’s injuries and condition were not known at the time of his posts.

Lander condemned what he described as violence by federal agents and used the moment to call for a broader critique of ICE in New York City. “Let’s be clear: every day, masked ICE agents are acting violently against our neighbors, illegally abducting them, holding them in cruel and inhumane conditions,” he wrote on social media. “We want ICE out of New York City. And we won’t stop showing up until they stop abducting our neighbors.” The comptroller’s remarks were echoed by others at the scene, including New York Congressman Dan Goldman, who said the family had come to his office seeking help, calling the behavior an “egregious act of excessive force.” Goldman urged Secretary of Homeland Security to take disciplinary action and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.

Local protest organizers had gathered outside the courthouse that day, which has become a focal point for demonstrations opposing the government’s immigration enforcement priorities. In his remarks to the crowd, Lander noted that the family involved had recently arrived in the United States from Ecuador, according to The New York Times, and that the father’s arrest occurred in front of his wife and children as he was led away by masked agents in the courthouse corridor. Lander’s and Goldman’s comments added to a broader national conversation about the role of ICE in border and interior enforcement as lawmakers pressure the agency on policy and oversight.

The incident comes amid heightened tension over immigration policy and enforcement tactics in New York, where activists and some elected officials have urged reforms and reductions in ICE activity within city limits. The same day, a separate incident in Dallas drew national attention after a man opened fire at an ICE facility, prompting FBI and other federal officials to investigate a note found at the scene. The note reportedly referenced intimidation and fear toward ICE personnel. Federal officials cautioned that the investigations remain ongoing, and conservative voices have pressed for a measured response to anti-ICE rhetoric while condemning violence.

In response to the video, the Daily Mail reported that the outlet reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Officials have not publicly confirmed details of the incident beyond what was captured on video. The broader political debate over ICE—its mission, presence in cities, and oversight—has intensified as New York and other jurisdictions reassess the balance between immigration enforcement and civil protections.

The episode unfolded on a day when activists and residents gathered near the courthouse to protest ICE operations in the city, reflecting a long-running dispute over federal immigration policy. Advocates argued that such confrontations undermine due-process protections and contribute to a climate of fear, while opponents of the protest cited concerns about illegal immigration and the need for robust law enforcement.

As investigators review the footage and statements from witnesses, officials cautioned that any characterization of what occurred would be premature, pending corroboration and a review of the incident by ICE and other authorities. The incident also raises questions about training, procedures for identifying officers, and protocols for arrest operations at immigration facilities in urban centers.

In New York politics, the event has added fuel to a conversation about the city’s posture toward federal immigration enforcement and the degree to which local leaders will challenge federal actions that affect immigrant communities. The advocates who gathered outside the courthouse said they would continue to push for changes and greater accountability for ICE, while officials across the spectrum balanced calls for due process with concerns about public safety and national security.