Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Democrat from New York, has publicly condemned the Trump administration for its handling of a recent security sweep at his New York City office, where a staff member was handcuffed by DHS officers. The incident occurred amid reports that protesters had entered the office, prompting federal officers to take action to ensure the safety of federal employees. Nadler accused the Trump administration of “sowing chaos” and employing intimidation tactics, calling the actions a “deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries.”
The Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers responded to the situation on Wednesday, following reports of protesters inside Nadler’s district office in Manhattan. At the time, a protest was taking place outside an immigration courthouse located at the same facility as the congressman’s office. A Homeland Security spokesperson explained that FPS officers were concerned about the safety of federal employees and that they entered the location to ensure the wellbeing of those present. However, when officers were let inside, they encountered four individuals, one of whom became verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office, leading to the detention of that individual in the hallway for a security check.
A video of the arrest, which was posted online, showed the officers stating that Nadler’s staff were “harboring rioters” and that they were conducting a check. The staff member being arrested can be heard crying during the incident, highlighting the emotional gravity of the situation. In a statement released Saturday, Nadler criticized the DHS officers for “forcefully” entering his office before handcuffing a member of his staff. He claimed that the action “demonstrates a deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries” and warned that if such tactics could be used on a Member of Congress, they could happen to anyone.
Nadler further called on Trump and DHS to halt “these dangerous tactics” and to abandon the expedited removal process, which he described as denying due process for illegal immigrants and U.S. citizens. “While no arrests were made and the situation was quickly deescalated, I am alarmed by the aggressive and heavy-handed tactics DHS is employing in New York City and across the country,” he said. His statements have drawn attention to the potential for escalation in tensions between federal authorities and civil rights organizations, raising questions about the broader implications of such incidents on civil liberties and legal norms in the United States.