Photo courtesy of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus via X
Democratic congress members, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), were refused entry to the 10th floor of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan on Sunday, June 8, when they attempted to conduct oversight of the facility amid allegations of “overcrowding, unbearable heat, and people being forced to sleep on bathroom floors.”
Velázquez, who represents parts of Brooklyn, and Espaillat, who represents parts of the west Bronx and northern Manhattan, held a press conference in lower Manhattan later on Sunday to demand entry to see the temporary detainment facility. According to reporting by AM New York, they were eventually allowed inside the building though their staff were not.
During the press conference held after the visit, it seems the two elected officials were denied access to the 10th floor of the building. “We are very concerned about what’s happening in this building and we will continue to come back until we are allowed to have access to the 10th floor,” Espaillat later said.
Photo by Síle Moloney
He added, “We must not give them what they want and will meet this cruelty with non-violence to ensure the protections and safety of immigrant communities.” U.S. President Donald Trump campaigned on a policy of protecting the borders and has repeatedly justified the actions of the Trump administration by stating that anyone who enters the country illegally will face consequences, even non-violent offenders.
As reported, a Marble Hill high school student, originally from Venezuela, known as Dylan, whose surname we are not disclosing in line with the wishes of his family, was detained by ICE officials towards the end of last month while he was attending a routine immigration hearing at a Manhattan courthouse. A rally was later held in Lower Manhattan outside Tweed Courthouse near City Hall organized by New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) and various other partners, to demand his release (story to follow). Click here to view a short video of the rally.
Other groups in attendance included but were not limited to the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), labor groups, Bronx Defenders, City Council Members, including Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), Gail Brewer (C.D. 6), Carmen de La Rosa (C.D. C.D. 10), former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger, co-chair of the board of Interfaith Center of NY, Power Malu, and president of compassion, Candice Braun, and chief empathy officer at Artists Athletes Activists/ROCC NYC. At least one member of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition, Margaret Groake, was also seen at the rally.
Photo by Síle Moloney
“ICE’s illegal and morally indefensible detention of Dylan last week, without just cause or due process, is a gross miscarriage of justice,” NYLAG officials said. “Dylan legally entered the United States to seek asylum. He is a model son, student, brother to his younger siblings, and member of his community. He works, goes to school, has friends and was fully complying with immigration proceedings. This is a kid who was doing everything ‘right.’”
They continued, “Dylan’s arrest and ongoing detention cause him enormous harm and rob him of the legally permitted opportunity to seek asylum relief with the full protections offered to him under the law. We urge the court to call this detention what it is, unlawful, and order Dylan’s immediate release. We call on the court to ensure Dylan is not further disconnected from his family, community, medical care and legal support as we work to restore justice and return a promising young man to the life he’s worked so hard for by bringing him home to New York City as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, on June 2, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced the filing of an amicus brief in the case of Dylan v. Leonard Oddo, in his official capacity as the facility administrator of the Moshannon Valley Processing Center; Brian McShane, in his official capacity as acting Philadelphia field office director for ICE; Todd Lyons, in his official capacity as acting director of ICE; and Kristi Noem, in her official capacity as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); as well as the DHS and ICE agencies.
Photo by Síle Moloney
An amicus brief is a legal document submitted by a third party not directly involved in a case to provide additional information, arguments, or perspectives to the court. For more on ICE’s rationale for Dylan’s detention, click here. A Queens high school student has also since been detained by ICE, to the outrage of many. We will share any further details we receive regarding Dylan’s status.
Espaillat, who represents parts of the West Bronx and Northern Manhattan, had earlier marched in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan on Sunday alongside former governor of New York and Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, having endorsed him in May. For more on this, click here.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.