Latest news with #NydiaVelazquez
CBS News
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Rally held to support "No Masks for ICE Act" introduced by New York lawmaker
Bill by N.Y. lawmaker would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions Bill by N.Y. lawmaker would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions Bill by N.Y. lawmaker would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions A New York lawmaker is calling for transparency from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, starting with having its agents remove their masks. In a statement from ICE, a spokesperson says the masks are optional but that "ICE law enforcement and their families are being targeted and are facing a 500% increase in assaults ... due to the demonization of ICE by hostile groups and irresponsible elected officials." "Politicians and activists must turn the temperature down and tone down their rhetoric," the spokesperson added. Bill would require ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions Immigration advocates and political leaders used 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, which houses the city's ICE field office, as a backdrop Saturday. Immigrants, and even Comptroller Brad Lander, have been detained there by ICE agents with masks on. "No excuses, no cover-ups. When law enforcement hides who they are, there is no accountability," Rep. Nydia Velazquez said. That's the message behind her "No Masks for ICE Act" introduced earlier this month, requiring that ICE agents be unmasked during enforcement actions unless it's for a serious health issue, which has to be explained in writing. "And require them to wear clothing that clearly shows they work for ICE," she said. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on June 20, 2025 in New York masks creates risk of copycat criminals, advocates say Supporters of the bill also allude to copycat incidents, where masked individuals have committed crimes allegedly pretending to be ICE agents. "If they're just wearing masks, you may think you're being kidnapped, and if you're armed, you may shoot them. So this bill will promote the safety of federal agents," Rep. Jerry Nadler said. Ricardo Aca, with immigrant advocacy group Make The Road, says banning the face coverings could relieve tensions he's seeing among the immigrant populations he advocates for. "A lot of folks don't know if they're being kidnapped or they're being detained because ICE is not even telling them or giving them the dignity and respect that they deserve," he said. Supporters say democracy cannot exist in darkness, or behind a mask.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congress members denied entry to Manhattan ICE facility, claim overcrowding, unsanitary conditions
Two members of Congress were blocked Sunday from entering an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Manhattan after trying to inspect it amid widespread detainments and claims of unbearable heat and overcrowding — including detainees being forced to sleep on bathroom floors. New York Democrat Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velazquez tried to perform a drop-in check at a temporary detainment facility at 26 Federal Plaza in Tribeca Sunday afternoon, but said they were illegally denied entry by an official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The pair argued that as elected officials, they have the legal right to inspect the facility unannounced. 'This is not Russia,' Rep. Velazquez said. 'This is the United States of America where we have three branches of government. The president of the United States is not a king. And we, as members of Congress, have the duly constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight in a place like this. What is it that they are hiding?' The congressional reps tried inspecting the facility — where hundreds of immigrants are reportedly being held after being swept up in recent ICE raids — after receiving reports of unbearable heat and overcrowding to the point that detainees have been forced to sleep on bathroom floors, according to the New York Immigration Coalition. ADVERTISEMENT 'We are members or Congress, duly elected. Our constitutional right and our constitutional duty is to have oversight over these agencies and to ensure that we supervise and ascertain whether the conditions in these facilities are just or not, whether they're inhumane or not,' Rep. Espailllat said. 'Today ICE violated all of our rights because as an extension, we are here to defend your rights, the rights of the American people to have access and oversight to the federal buildings to ensure that everything is done correctly and in accordance to the law,' he said. 'We were denied that right today, a basic civil right, a constitutional right, that we as members of congress are here to uphold. So we will continue to come back. 'We will continue to come back until we are allowed to have access to the 10th floor.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congress members denied entry to Manhattan ICE facility, claim overcrowding, unsanitary conditions
Two members of Congress were blocked Sunday from entering an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Manhattan after trying to inspect it amid widespread detainments and claims of unbearable heat and overcrowding — including detainees being forced to sleep on bathroom floors. New York Democrat Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velazquez tried to perform a drop-in check at a temporary detainment facility at 26 Federal Plaza in Tribeca Sunday afternoon, but said they were illegally denied entry by an official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The pair argued that as elected officials, they have the legal right to inspect the facility unannounced. 'This is not Russia,' Rep. Velazquez said. 'This is the United States of America where we have three branches of government. The president of the United States is not a king. And we, as members of Congress, have the duly constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight in a place like this. What is it that they are hiding?' The congressional reps tried inspecting the facility — where hundreds of immigrants are reportedly being held after being swept up in recent ICE raids — after receiving reports of unbearable heat and overcrowding to the point that detainees have been forced to sleep on bathroom floors, according to the New York Immigration Coalition. 'We are members or Congress, duly elected. Our constitutional right and our constitutional duty is to have oversight over these agencies and to ensure that we supervise and ascertain whether the conditions in these facilities are just or not, whether they're inhumane or not,' Rep. Espailllat said. 'Today ICE violated all of our rights because as an extension, we are here to defend your rights, the rights of the American people to have access and oversight to the federal buildings to ensure that everything is done correctly and in accordance to the law,' he said. 'We were denied that right today, a basic civil right, a constitutional right, that we as members of congress are here to uphold. So we will continue to come back. 'We will continue to come back until we are allowed to have access to the 10th floor.'
CBS News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
NYC lawmakers say they were denied access to ICE facility at Federal Plaza
United States Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velazquez are condemning U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's practices in New York City and nationwide. The New York Democratic lawmakers said Sunday they were denied access to the 10th floor at 26 Federal Plaza, where they say the agency is detaining people. They warned that's just one of many concerning actions in the Trump administration's deportation program. Their attempt to get inside the building came after the NYPD clashed with protesters outside the facility on Saturday over recent ICE arrests. Police say 13 people were issued court summonses and nine were arrested and charged. Read more: Trump deploying National Guard to Los Angeles as immigration protests ramp up after citywide ICE operations "Today, ICE violated our rights" Immigration advocates say they have reason to believe that hundreds of immigrants are being held on the 10th floor in inhumane conditions. Espaillat and Velazquez said they attempted to tour the facility after waiting over an hour in the lobby, only to be denied access. They walked out of Federal Plaza frustrated. "Today, ICE violated all of our rights because, as an extension, we are here to defend your rights, the rights of the American people, to have access and oversight to the federal buildings to ensure that everything is done correctly and in accordance to the law. We were denied that right today, a basic civil right, a constitutional right that we as members of Congress are here to uphold," Espaillat said. The two members of Congress said a deputy denied them access to an immigration holding facility. "She said that it's an ICE facility and a sensitive facility," Espaillat said. Lawmakers say they're worried about conditions at Federal Plaza The representatives, along with immigration advocates, condemned recent ICE arrests at immigration hearings. They say advocates captured images which they say shows federal agents taking migrants into custody at court proceedings and ICE check-ins. They added that they're worried about the conditions migrants are facing, following reports of overcrowding, unbearable heat, and people being forced to sleep on the floor. "Traditionally have been detained for by some hours, but not overnight or not today or not three days," Velazquez said. CBS News New York reached out to ICE for a comment and it released a statement, saying, in part, "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is executing the president's mission of identifying and removing criminal aliens and other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws."
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Attacking Trump's Tariffs, Democrats Focus on Small Business Struggles
Since President Trump unleashed an on-again, off-again whiplash of global tariffs, congressional Democrats have worked to shine a spotlight on small business owners who say the tariffs and economic toil are threatening their livelihoods. In videos on social media, local news stories, Capitol Hill news conferences and hearings, Democrats have spotlighted the plight of local entrepreneurs who describe being forced to raise prices, lay off workers, freeze hiring and slow sales to conserve stock as they absorb the impact of Mr. Trump's trade moves. It is one way in which Democrats are trying to use the tariff issue in their broader strategy of portraying Mr. Trump and Republicans as catering to the rich and powerful at the expense of ordinary Americans. The focus comes as Democrats work to recast themselves as the party of working people and accuse Republicans, historically known as the party of business, of stifling American entrepreneurship. 'President Trump's trade war is economic arson on Main Street, and these folks are getting scorched,' Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, said at a news conference this week with several small business owners. 'The outcry that we hear from our small businesses echoes what we heard during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Representative Nydia M. Velázquez, the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee, at a shadow hearing held on Thursday by House Democrats. 'Except this time, the government is causing the pain, not working to alleviate it.' Democratic leaders have encouraged their rank-and-file members to focus on small businesses. Many of them did so last month when they fanned out across the country during a two-week recess. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
