ICE kidnaps dems: 'We've been trapped!' Democratic lawmakers say ICE 'incarcerated' them at detention center

[cbabe]

https://www.rawstory.com/ice-2673863764/

'We've been trapped!' Democratic lawmakers say ICE 'incarcerated' them at detention center

Alexander Willis
August 6, 2025 12:35PM ET

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) claimed on Wednesday that he and two other House Democrats had been “trapped” at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in New York by an officer that refused to identify themself, keeping he and his colleagues, “in essence, incarcerated.”

In a social media post on X, Espaillat said that he, along with Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Nydia Valazquez (D-NY), attempted to visit the Sunset Park Detention Center in Brooklyn in an effort to observe the treatment of detained migrants.

…

We were greeted by a masked agent who refused to give us his name, who refused to show his face, and who proceeded to lock the door, keeping us, in essence, incarcerated, because we cannot go in or out until we get further notice.”

…

As of Wednesday afternoon, it’s unclear whether the three New York Democrats remained trapped on the grounds of the detention facility.

… more …

[sakabatou]

1. Call them what ICE actually are: kidnappers and human traffickers

[Maine Abu El Banat]

21. Trumps personal Army

[AZ8theist]

65. FUCKING NAZIS

[Codifer]

2. wtf

I got nothing left.

[al bupp]

3. Jesus Bleeping Christ

Naked fascism

[C_U_L8R]

4. Charge them with kidnapping.

[Qutzupalotl]

10. That's difficult without IDs.

[popsdenver]

36. I can only imagine

that ANY of Hitler's Gestapo or SS wore any means of identification..........

[Torchlight]

5. Stormtroopers are feeling emboldened.

(I'll feel more invested in the meritless assertions of my "bad optics" when calling them gestapo as soon as they quit acting as such)

[ShazzieB]

43. Your optics look fine to me.

Call them storm troopers or Gestapo or both. That's exactly what they're acting like!

[enough]

6. Any random ICE officer has more power than any elected member of

the United States House of Representatives.

[markodochartaigh]

37. Members of the House are elected by and serve the people

ICE officers are chosen by and serve the real leaders of this country.

Anyway this is the authoritarian take. And if something isn't done soon it will become the reality.

[Walleye]

51. Call the NYPD. These ice agents not only disrespecting the congressman, but the thousands of people who voted for them

These stupid Republicans don’t seem to understand that when they disrespect a congressman, they are also disrespecting all of that person‘s constituents. You know we the people

[slightlv]

68. You know, i actually

Like and support this idea. If all those who voted for these reps called police, filed complaints, and urged legal action it may move one of them to do something. At least there would be follow up.

[Walleye]

69. Unfortunately, at this point, most Americans are too busy trying to make ends meet with all of the economic turmoil

And it seems nobody is really protecting the constitution anymore. Officials or citizens.

[Karasu]

63. They sure as fuck do now.

[Scrivener7]

7. This fucking "refused to identify himself" shit has got to stop. They need to start being prosecuted.

[mwmisses4289]

44. Yes. for impersonating an leo, which i believe is a felony.

[MichMan]

59. How would that work if they actually are a LEO?

[mwmisses4289]

62. I might be to simplistic, but if they don't want to be charged, they unmask, show i.d., and show a warrant.

In other words, prove you are leo.
While I don't particularly worry about them, they are targeting people in stand your ground states, and there are enough immigrants who are citizens who have legal firearms. I don't think it will be long before one or more of them will shoot these thugs first, and ask questions later.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. They need to sue

those nazi thugs for emotional distress leading to PTSD.

[allegorical oracle]

20. There you go. Agree wholeheartedly. Believe lawsuits should be used sparingly, but it

appears to be one of the only tools that can put a delay on this regime. Believe it must be done sooner rather than later for two reasons: 1) To halt at least some of the lawlessness, and 2) because djt will start firing and replacing with judges who are toadies.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. I'm a big fan of lawsuits

My husband was severely injured in an accident by a drunk driver a few months after we got engaged. When people do wrong and permanently harm your body or soul - you have a right to hit them back as hard as you can with the legal system.

[Callie1979]

25. I believe women refused med help due to restrictive laws should sue the hospital.

I know I've changed the topic, but if these States insist that the laws DONT prevent treatment & the hospitals are scared thinking they DO, then a lawsuit will make one or the other a liar.

[JustAnotherGen]

26. I'm right with you

But it's actually on topic. This a Dictatorship's behavior - to include forcing women to have children to use as cannon fodder.

[calimary]

30. Sue them for violating their sacred duty.

It starts with “First, do no harm.”

[MLWR]

42. For false arrest.

[Johnny2X2X]

9. Things are going to get really ugly in this country

ICE is multiplying is size, they don't answer to the law, they are going to be everywhere terrorizing our population.

[Hornedfrog2000]

29. Get a gun

I shoot people who come at me with a gun and a mask without identifying themselves.

[OldBaldy1701E]

45. Hear Hear! (n/t)

[Karasu]

64. They're also removing the previous age caps, so now it's open to every fascist 18-year-old and every RW geriatric.

"Ugly" probably doesn't even begin to describe it.

[DBoon]

11. Another source for the story

I always want to double check Rawstory:

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/members-of-congress-denied-oversight-visit-at-notorious-nyc-jail-goldman/

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Three members of Congress were denied entry into Metropolitan Detention Center, which is being used by the Department of Homeland Security to detain over 100 people, Congressman Adriano Espaillat said Wednesday.

By law, members of Congress can conduct oversight visits at facilities used by the Department of Homeland Security to “detain or otherwise house aliens,” even without prior notice, Congressman Dan Goldman said.

Goldman said he was told they could not enter because the Bureau of Prisons, which oversees the facility, has different rules. Goldman, Espaillat and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez were held between a gate and the front entrance of the Brooklyn facility for nearly an hour Wednesday morning.

My bold.

[cbabe]

12. Thanks for the double check.

[ancianita]

14. Goldman was a federal prosecutor in the SDNY. He likely knows what to do to make sure this doesn't happen to Dems again

[Marthe48]

28. And I hope every human in the U.S.

This is illegal whether it happens to an elected official or a person on the street.

[HoosierDebbie]

52. Whoa!

Definitely a mistake by these detention goons. Goldman is an outspoken and skilled Democratic Representative who could make those idiots regret their crime. This will not end with just a small news story.

[erronis]

17. Thanks for the double check! I wish posters could search for more direct sources than relying on aggregators.

I believe that Rawstory actually publishes some original material, but many cites to them seem to be from better sources. Give credit to the original reporters, if possible.

[mopinko]

66. there's usually a link to the original article. i dont like rs, either.

1 more click, and u can get to the real story. but no…

[allegorical oracle]

22. So does your pix 11 news alter the original intent of Rawstory? What is pix 11?

[LeftInTX]

31. Pix 11 is a NYC affiliated sttation.

The Democrats were not kidnapped by ICE. Rawstory says they were kidnapped. They were kept in a holding area while trying to enter an ICE facility. (Most prisons have holding areas for visitors)

After waiting and waiting, hey were told that they could not access the facility. If they had been kidnapped, they would have been detained.

What ICE is doing is trying to prevent inspections by denying them access to the facility. ICE also kept them waiting for an extended length of time, which is a common tactic used by numerous officials when they are going to deny you a meeting etc.

“What they’re doing is an end-run around the law that permits us to inspect and observe immigration detention facilities,” Goldman said. “They clearly have something to hide. All we want to do is see what the conditions are.”

A spokesperson for DHS said it requires at least a week’s prior notice for detention facility visits.

“ICE law enforcement has seen a surge in … disruptions and obstructions to enforcement, including by politicians themselves,” a DHS spokesperson told PIX11 News.

Espaillat and Goldman have both joined a lawsuit calling this policy unlawful.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

39. It requires at least a week's prior notice for detention facility visits.

That's like telling your son, "I'm going to search your room for illegal drugs -- a week from now."

Only unannounced spot checks enable congressmen to see what really going on.

[LeftInTX]

40. Pretty much! But they weren't kidnapped by ICE.

[ancianita]

41. "Espaillat and Goldman have both joined a lawsuit calling this policy unlawful." Thanks! Good to know.

they're doing something to stop ICE's denials of access for congress people, at the very least.

Detainee access also has to work both ways -- all detainees should themselves have access to lawyers.

The ACLU and others have also brought a class-action suit on behalf of detainees at Alligator Alcatraz on the ground that they don't have access to lawyers.

Class action suits are in the works. Hopefully the cowardly maga SCOTUS will take those more seriously.

[alfredo]

33. Were they eventually allowed access?

[LeftInTX]

35. It sounds like they need to "give a week's notice"

“

What they’re doing is an end-run around the law that permits us to inspect and observe immigration detention facilities,” Goldman said. “They clearly have something to hide. All we want to do is see what the conditions are.”

A spokesperson for DHS said it requires at least a week’s prior notice for detention facility visits.

“ICE law enforcement has seen a surge in … disruptions and obstructions to enforcement, including by politicians themselves,” a DHS spokesperson told PIX11 News.

Espaillat and Goldman have both joined a lawsuit calling this policy unlawful.

[dixiegrrrrl]

38. Thank you for a good reminder to doublecheck.

There is an important difference between the 2 stories.

[Cha]

49. TY for More Information! Dan Goldman is

one of my favorite Reps... I don't know of Nydia Velázquez or Adriano Espaillat.

[brakester]

13. Goldman is a

a go-getter and very astute. He used to do a podcast, but I can't find the name right now.
I was very impressed by his political acumen and was delighted that he won a seat in Congress.

[Cha]

50. Yes, TY! I said in my post that Dan Goldman is

one of my favorite Reps.. for the reasons you mentioned and his work on the Jan6 committee.

I just looked it up.. I didn't know he had a podcast..

The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

[Midnight Writer]

15. Call 911, report a crime (unidentified man detaining you), press charges. That is your starting point.

Last edited Wed Aug 6, 2025, 02:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Subsequently, gather evidence and file civil lawsuits against INDIVIDUALS who are denying the law and denying our freedom.

They feel safe violating laws because they feel as part of the government organization they are immune.

It is time to disabuse them of that notion. Each of them as individuals can be held personally liable for their actions.

Where is our ACLU?

[underpants]

54. This is a mess from a command and control perspective

These guys are completely free to do whatever the hell they want. No one with at least business casual meets a Congressional delegation? This moof knew he had support to act like that.

He’s at a detention facility and he’s still masked up?

[Lulu KC]

16. Call NATO

We need help.

[erronis]

19. Or send a check for $1,000,000 to trump.

[JustAnotherGen]

27. That's probably

the wisest course of action.

He's such a whore.

[JustAnotherGen]

24. They will never help America

Not NATO and not the UN.

We are on our own here.

[GiqueCee]

18. This crosses a line...

... and somebody had better step up... or step down. This horseshit cannot go unanswered.

[Initech]

32. We are dealing with some truly evil fucking pieces of shit in ICE!

Fuck ICE! No circle of hell is good enough for these psychopaths!

[DSandra]

34. The sooner that everyone realizes that this is a five alarm fire for democracy and the country, the better.

Stop it with the disbelief, this is real and act like your on an island to fight an army and the ships have been burned.

[LymphocyteLover]

46. WTAF!!!!! Fuck this fucking fascist bullshit administration!

[red dog 1]

47. ICE is Shitler's Gestapo.

Link to tweet

[electric_blue68]

48. 😬😬 ty for posting

[GoCubsGo]

67. Intimidation Tactics 101

Straight from the Authoritarian Playbook. Try to scare away those who stand up to you with the threat of jail time. They have been doing this kind of shit for a while now. It ain't working.

[Kid Berwyn]

53. Do not challenge KKKing Taco!

It was useless to storm his urban collection facility!



Ha ha ha! Ha!

[bamagal62]

55. OMG

[MichMan]

56. What is Leticia James doing about it?

[AdamGG]

57. And these gestapo agents

are about to have their funding tripled.

[Festivito]

58. Anyone wearing a mask in there is complicit in that crime.

[AZLD4Candidate]

60. Trump's Freikorps. Look it up if Freikorps is a new term. It isn't good.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

61. from Rep Dan Goldman

ICE has held 100+ immigrants at MDC Brooklyn for more than a month.

Today, @velazquez.house.gov, @repespaillat.bsky.social, and I attempted to exercise our legal authority to demand access and oversight. We were turned away.

This obstruction is exactly why I’m suing the Trump administration.

— Rep. Dan Goldman (@repdangoldman.bsky.social) 2025-08-06T19:18:17.972Z

[Martin68]

70. The Trump administration is officially a fascist regime.