In the video,…#DHS officers entered #JerryNadler’s district office & accused staff members of “harboring rioters.” A Nadler staffer is seen crying & being handcuffed. Another officer is at a door trying to enter a private area of the office while a staffer asks for a #warrant.

#law #immigration #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

#DHS later said in a statement that “one individual” — the woman seen being handcuffed — had blocked police from performing a security check they intended to do based on information there were #protesters in the lawmaker’s office. Later that day, protesters gathered outside of the federal building, demonstrating against #ICE.

#law #immigration #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

…“While no arrests were made & the situation was quickly deescalated, I am alarmed by the aggressive & heavy-handed tactics #DHS is employing in NYC & across the country. The decision to enter a congressional office & detain a staff member demonstrates a deeply troubling disregard for proper #legal boundaries,” Rep #JerryNadler said in a stmnt.

#law #immigration #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

2 people who were at the courthouse to monitor #ICE activity said the confrontation came after ICE officers threatened to #arrest them & other advocates, & a #Nadler staffer invited the advocates inside.

Nadler’s office is on the 6th floor in the same Varick Street building as federal #immigration court, which is on the 5th floor. The building also houses #DHS & other federal offices.

#law #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

…Robert Gottheim, Nadler’s co-chief of staff, confirmed there was no arrest but otherwise declined to comment on the unusual event that resulted in federal agents entering the office of a Democratic member of #Congress, accusing office staffers of #criminal wrongdoing & handcuffing a staffer.

#law #immigration #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

…Hours after the confrontation involving the #Nadler staffers & #DHS police, around 6:30PM, police arrested nearly 2 dozen #demonstrators they allege blocked traffic outside the building, an #NYPD spox said.

In the #demonstration, mutual #aid volunteers assisting #immigrants tried to block #ICE vans transporting detained immigrants from leaving the building, acc/to organizers. 18 protesters were issued criminal summons, & 5 people were arrested & charged, the NYPD spox said.

#law #GoodTrouble

In the video of the confrontation at #Nadler’s office, the handcuffed staff member says that there were constituents present in the office for a meeting. Those constituents later identified themselves in interviews w/Gothamist as #ImmigrantRights advocates monitoring activities in the building, including outside the federal #immigration courtrooms.

#law #immigration #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

The video does not capture any interactions between #Nadler’s staff & #DHS police before the staffer was handcuffed. But 2 advocates who were present as the events unfolded described officers questioning people as they left #immigration court & threatening advocates as they intervened. Both people asked Gothamist not to use their names, saying they fear retaliation by the federal govt.

#law #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

The advocates said they were outside an #immigration courtroom where plainclothes #ICE officers were questioning people as they were leaving their court appearances. The advocates said they were advising the #immigrants of their #rights. The officers, in turn, threatened the advocates with #arrest for *loitering*, according to the 2 advocates who spoke with Gothamist.

#law #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FredomOfAssembly #FreeToProtest #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

According to the 2 advocates, #ICE officers then #arrested one of the advocates in the #courthouse; #DHS did not respond to further inquiries about what transpired. Then, the 2 advocates said, a Nadler staffer invited them & a third advocate up to the lawmaker’s office, which is on the floor above the courthouse. They were there for about 20 minutes before the DHS police entered, the 2 advocates said.

#law #immigration #Constitution #FirstAmendment #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

An officer is heard in the video of the encounter claiming the handcuffed Nadler aide, seen crying, had pushed a #DHS officer. Another officer is also seen entering an area of the lawmaker’s office, over the objections of a Nadler aide, who asked for a #warrant before acceding to the demand [despite no warrant being presented].

The advocates said they did not witness any staff member pushing a DHS officer.

#law #immigration #dissent #Constitution #FirstAmendment #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo

They said the aide who was handcuffed had declined the officer entry to a more private part of the office. The courthouse as well as the government offices are generally OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

The video shows the handcuffed staff member asking officers, “What’s your problem?” She adds, without further clarifying, “They’re here for a meeting. They’re constituents.”

A #DHS officer urged her, “Do not resist. Stop resisting.”

#law #ACAB #immigration #FirstAmendment #AbuseOfPower #Trump #Gestapo