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.”

 

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.

 

A press release from the White House dated June 9 read, “Radical left lunatics are taking to the streets of Los Angeles — attacking law enforcement, hurling projectiles at police cruisers, burning vehicles, and shutting down freeways — because the Trump Administration is removing violent criminal illegal immigrants from their communities.”

 

It continued, “Democrats like [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom and [Los Angeles Mayor] Karen Bass should be thanking President Trump for stepping up and leading where they refused — and for ridding their streets of criminal illegal immigrant killers, rapists, and gangbangers.”

 

The following list of people were then provided, described as “sick criminals taken off the streets of Los Angeles in recent days”:

• Cuong Chanh Phan, a Vietnamese national and known gang member with a conviction for second degree murder. He was arrested in 1994 after participating in a gang-affiliated cold-blooded murder of two teenagers at a graduation party.
• Eswin Uriel Castro, a Mexican national with convictions for child molestation and being armed with a dangerous weapon and previous arrests for robbery and domestic violence. He has been previously deported.
• Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, a Filipino national with convictions for rape, assault, burglary, and theft.
• Cielo Vivar-Ubaldo, Mexican national with convictions for sex with a minor, narcotics violations, and hit-and-run. He has been previously deported.
• Anastacio Enrique Solis-Salinas, a Nicaraguan national with convictions for domestic violence and hit and run, and a previous arrest for willful cruelty to a child.
• Juan Antonio Flores-Felician, a Mexican national with convictions for burglary, possession of stolen property, and receiving stolen property. He has been previously deported.
• Dzhakhar Aslambekov, a Russian national recently detained for credit card fraud in government assistance programs.
• Miguel Angel Palafox-Montes, a Mexican national with convictions for grand theft, narcotics violations, and identity theft, and previous arrests for battery and burglary.
• Rafael Gamez-Sanchez, a Mexican national with a conviction for vehicular manslaughter.
• Arturo Diaz-Perez, a Mexican national with convictions for narcotics and weapons violations.
• Felimon Alejo-Garcia, a Mexican national with a conviction for driving under the influence.
• Diego Hernando Quinones-Alvarado, a Colombian national with a conviction for driving under the influence and a recent arrest for burglary.
• Julian Riveros-Cadavid, a Colombian national with previous arrests for domestic battery, child endangerment, assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft, and narcotics violations.
• Jose Cristobal Hernandez-Buitron, a Peruvian national with a conviction for robbery.
• Chrissahdah Tooy, an Indonesian national, with convictions for narcotics, driving under the influence, and illegal entry.
• Jordan Mauricio Meza-Esquibel, a Honduran national, with previous arrests for distribution of heroin and cocaine and domestic violence.
• Francisco Sanchez-Arguello, a Mexican national, with previous arrests for grand theft larceny and possession of a prohibited weapon.
• Russell Gomez-Dzul, a Mexican national, arrested for assaulting a federal officer during the riots.”

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.

Later, in light of the ongoing protests over immigration policy taking place in New York City and across the country in recent days, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch released a statement on June 9, saying, “The right to protest peacefully is central to our democracy, and the NYPD is committed to ensuring that people can always exercise that right safely. As a matter of city law, the NYPD does not engage in civil immigration enforcement, and we will continue to follow the law.”

 

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.

 

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to remove one sentence at the request of an attendee.