Jerry Nadler SWATTED - ICE Raids Congressional Office and Detains Staffer

Chaotic Scenes Unfold in Lower Manhattan as Federal Agents Detain Staffer in Rep. Jerry Nadler’s Office

LOWER MANHATTAN, NY – June 1, 2025 – A dramatic confrontation erupted in the heart of Lower Manhattan on Wednesday when Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers entered the district office of Democratic Representative Jerry Nadler, handcuffing a female staffer in an incident captured on video. The chaotic scenes unfolded in a federal building on Varick Street, which houses both Nadler’s office and an immigration courthouse, amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement policies.

According to video footage obtained by Gothamist, DHS officers entered Nadler’s office, accusing staff members of “harboring rioters.” In the recording, a female staffer is seen crying as she is placed in handcuffs, while another staffer questions whether the officers have a warrant to search a private area of the office. “I’m a federal officer, we’re here checking on something. We have the right to check,” one officer is heard saying, while another shouts “stop resisting” in the background. The staffer initially blocked access to a private area but eventually allowed officers to proceed.

The incident, first reported by Gothamist on Friday, stemmed from concerns by DHS’s Federal Protective Service (FPS) about the safety of federal employees following reports of protesters in the building. A DHS spokesperson stated, “Upon arrival, officers were granted entry and encountered four individuals. One individual became verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office. The officers then detained the individual in the hallway for the purpose of completing the security check. All were released without further incident.” No arrests were made, and the staffer was not charged with any crime, both Nadler’s office and DHS confirmed.

Rep. Nadler, a longtime Democratic congressman representing New York’s 12th District, condemned the incident in a statement to Politico, saying, “President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidating tactics against both citizens and non-citizens in a reckless and dangerous manner. If this can happen in a Member of Congress’s office, it can happen to anyone—and it is happening.” Nadler described the actions as a “deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries.”

The confrontation coincided with protests outside the federal building, where immigrant rights advocates and mutual aid volunteers attempted to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vans from transporting detained immigrants, according to organizers. An NYPD spokesperson reported that 23 people were taken into custody during the evening protests, with 18 issued criminal court summonses and five arrested and charged.

The incident has sparked outrage among Democratic lawmakers, with Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) calling it “the latest attempt by Donald Trump to weaponize law enforcement against lawmakers.” Torres added, “An attack on one Congress Member or one Congressional staffer is an attack on Congress as an institution.” The clash comes amid growing friction over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, including a promise of the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history and the removal of “protected” status for venues like courthouses and schools.

Two individuals monitoring ICE activity at the courthouse told Gothamist that ICE officers had threatened to arrest them and other advocates, prompting a Nadler staffer to invite them into the office. The detained staffer, in a brief phone interview with Gothamist, said “everything resolved” but declined further comment.

This incident follows other high-profile clashes between federal authorities and Democratic officials, including the arrests of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver earlier this month during protests outside an immigration detention center in Newark. The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies continue to fuel protests and legal battles nationwide.

17GEN4.com

17GEN4 News