Congressman Dan Goldman raised the alarm Thursday over the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement in the city.

“This is Gestapo-like behavior where plain clothes officers, wearing masks, are terrorizing immigrants who are doing the right thing,” he said.

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Dan Goldman observed multiple arrests at 90 Broadway, a federal immigration court on Thursday

  • Goldman, along with Gov. Hochul and other elected officials, have denounced ongoing operations at immigration courts that have led to the arrests of immigrants seeking asylum
  • The city has seen a crackdown in immigration enforcement following the arrest of a 20-year-old Venezuelan student last week

Goldman, whose office is in the same building as one of the immigration courts, observed two arrests on Thursday.

In a video his office shared with NY1, ICE officers can be seen detaining and taking away at least one person.

“There wasn’t a single person who spoke English. There did not appear to be a single lawyer there representing them. These are routine appearances. They’re updates, they’re administrative, there is no reason for anyone to have expected anything unusual to happen today,” Goldman said.

Goldman said he observed at least a dozen immigration agents outside the courtroom. A spokesman in his office told NY1 about 15 immigrants were arrested on Thursday in a span of a few hours.

“They are just arresting everybody and they’ll figure it out later,” Goldman said.

“Leave our families alone. Let our students get the education, especially those who are trying to follow the law,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday at an unrelated event.

Many Democratic local, state and federal officials have denounced the crackdown — but not the mayor.

The increased enforcement comes just days after a 20-year-old Venezuelan student was detained by ICE last week.

The mayor has been silent on the case, but said Tuesday: “People should really understand that this was not in the school building. We don’t know the outcome of the court case. We’re not responsible for them, we’re not in charge of them. And so I think that’s a question that should be referred to the federal authorities.”

City Hall officials said they did not coordinate with ICE on these operations and had not discussed it with federal agencies.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal called on the mayor to do more.

“City Hall needs to put its foot down and tell ICE and federal officials that they have no business in a courtroom whether it be state or federal,” he said.

Hochul says immigrants who are following the law should be embraced.

“Let’s get them work authorization, if they can work. If they’re students, let them get their degree, and be part of our community,” she said.

Goldman said he plans to demand answers next week from the Department of Homeland Security when he’s back in Washington D.C.