Introduction to the New Tactics
Amid ongoing outrage over Tuesday’s Canal Street ICE raid, masked agents seemed to take on a new approach at nearby 26 Federal Plaza last week: Rounding up several families at a time and taking them into custody for questioning.
Photo by Dean Moses
The Changing Landscape of ICE Tactics
In the days following Tuesday’s chaotic and violent takedown in Chinatown, the sense of fear and despair inside Lower Manhattan’s immigration court only grew more palpable. According to sources familiar with ICE agent proceedings inside 26 Federal Plaza, the masked agents’ tactics have changed. In an attempt to shift media attention, the masked men are altering the way they make detentions by trading in physicality for stealthy procedure.
Observations of the New Approach
As amNewYork observed last week, a Russian man, accompanied by his wife, baby, and small child, was stopped as soon as he left a courtroom on the 12th floor, only to be released. “Did you think we were going to do that? We wouldn’t do that,” one ICE agent remarked, referring to detaining the family. Yet, they were stopped again just a few steps away by another agent, who said, “We need to ask you some questions.” Without touching them, the family was ushered into an elevator. Their fate is not currently known.
The Impact on Families
A similar incident took place mere minutes later. This time, a father holding a young girl and his wife were escorted into an elevator. When photojournalists began snapping photos of the detainment, one fed began waving his hand in front of the cameras. That same day, a woman waiting for an elevator was approached by a group of federal officers and rifled through her paperwork. Deciding she was not the person they were looking for, they left her alone — but not without doing their damage. The sheer fear of the interaction left her breaking down into tears.
Concerns Over the New Strategy
This change in strategy comes after months of intense and physical arrests that have seen some court attendees wrestled to the ground and others carried through the hallways and out of sight. A court observer who identified himself as Peter, who works to try and track those detained by ICE, says this new practice of taking entire families is extremely concerning. “Detaining entire families, even temporarily, represents a serious escalation of tactics. With family separations on the floor, while tragic, the benefit is that proper aid and counsel can be rendered to the remaining family immediately,” Peter said.
Response from Authorities
In response, US Rep. Dan Goldman paid a surprise visit on Oct. 23 to immigration court, during which he faced down several masked men, demanding to see their badges and which organization they worked for. In this instance, about a dozen of them were posted outside a courtroom waiting for the judge to release his respondents. Just after noon, a large group of individuals, mainly families, poured out of the courtroom and into the hallway. A young father cradling a child was stopped in his tracks, resulting in his wife pushing through the crowd and screaming for mercy.
Continued Pressure
On Friday, politicians looked to keep the pressure up, this time with City Comptroller Brad Lander making a surprise appearance. Peter, the court observer, told amNewYork that he believes it is thanks to both the press and Congress Member Goldman that the man was released.
Conclusion
The new tactics employed by ICE, focusing on taking entire families into custody for questioning, mark a significant shift in their strategy. This approach has raised concerns among observers and has led to responses from politicians, including surprise visits to immigration court. The situation continues to unfold, with the impact on families and the role of media and political pressure being closely watched.
FAQs
- Q: What is the new tactic being used by ICE?
A: ICE is now rounding up entire families at a time and taking them into custody for questioning. - Q: What prompted this change in strategy?
A: The change seems to be an attempt to shift media attention away from previous physical and intense arrests. - Q: How have politicians responded to this new tactic?
A: Politicians, including US Rep. Dan Goldman and City Comptroller Brad Lander, have made surprise visits to immigration court, demanding transparency and questioning the tactics used by ICE. - Q: What are the concerns regarding this new practice?
A: The primary concern is the impact on families, as detaining entire families can leave them without access to crucial resources and support.
