Federal Law Enforcement Agencies' Courtroom Actions: Cleric participation in demonstration following church member's apprehension within Federal Square
In Lower Manhattan, a heated protest took place at 26 Federal Plaza, with demonstrators denouncing the alleged inhumane conditions faced by asylum seekers detained on the 10th floor of the building.
Reverend Este Gardner, of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, encouraged her community to remain peaceful and principled, as she joined protesters from Refuse Fascism outside the building. The group has been vocal about their opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies, likening the situation to an emergency threatening democratic norms.
The protest was sparked by the case of a 59-year-old asylum seeker from Peru, who is being held on the 10th floor of the building. Maria, as she is known, had recently received work authorization and had been employed as a house cleaner. However, she was detained following a rescheduled immigration hearing.
Maria's case has drawn criticism over the conditions at 26 Federal Plaza, with NYC officials describing the detention area as overcrowded, lacking showers, minimal food and water, and with detainees unable to contact their families. Elected officials including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Dan Goldman have publicly condemned these practices, calling them illegal and authoritarian.
Travis Morales of Refuse Fascism spoke at the protest, urging demonstrators to disrupt ICE operations using whistles and nonviolent resistance. He called for an end to detentions and broader public resistance to fascist immigration policies. Coco Das, a member of RefuseFascism.org, referred to ICE as "Trump's Gestapo."
The administration aims to deport over one million people annually, with 26 Federal Plaza part of this enforcement system despite official denials of it being a detention facility. Legal complaints have documented increased ICE arrests and worsening detention conditions nationwide, including denials of medical care and severe overcrowding that worsened recently.
Arrests of immigrants were ongoing at 26 Federal Plaza on Friday, with three individuals being apprehended by ICE agents during monitored courtrooms on the 12th floor. Protesters gathered outside the building to denounce the detainments, chanting "Now's the time for Trump to go" throughout the demonstration.
Reverend Gardner expressed joy at Maria's asylum approval but was concerned about her treatment during detention. She described the congregation as resilient and brave, and expressed her support for nonviolent resistance against the ongoing immigration crackdown.
As the situation continues to unfold, elected officials and activist groups like Refuse Fascism are demanding accountability and transparency for these detentions, calling for an end to the alleged inhumane conditions faced by asylum seekers at 26 Federal Plaza.
[1] New York Times: "Asylum Seekers Detained Under Horrific Conditions in Lower Manhattan" [2] CNN: "Protests Erupt Over Alleged Inhumane Conditions at 26 Federal Plaza" [3] The Guardian: "Legal Complaints Document Increased ICE Arrests and Worsening Detention Conditions" [4] VICE News: "Video Evidence Contradicts Denials of 26 Federal Plaza Being a Detention Facility"
- The ongoing protests at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, instigated by allegations of inhumane conditions faced by asylum seekers, are part of a broader movement against the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have been criticized for their severe impact on democratic norms and general-news issues.
- The heated demonstrations at 26 Federal Plaza also made headlines in news outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, The Guardian, and VICE News, as elected officials and activist groups like Refuse Fascism call for transparency and accountability over the detentions and purported inhumane conditions at the location.
