Latest news with #NydiaVelazquez
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congress members denied entry to Manhattan ICE facility, claim overcrowding, unsanitary conditions
Two members of Congress were blocked Sunday from entering an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Manhattan after trying to inspect it amid widespread detainments and claims of unbearable heat and overcrowding — including detainees being forced to sleep on bathroom floors. New York Democrat Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velazquez tried to perform a drop-in check at a temporary detainment facility at 26 Federal Plaza in Tribeca Sunday afternoon, but said they were illegally denied entry by an official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The pair argued that as elected officials, they have the legal right to inspect the facility unannounced. 'This is not Russia,' Rep. Velazquez said. 'This is the United States of America where we have three branches of government. The president of the United States is not a king. And we, as members of Congress, have the duly constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight in a place like this. What is it that they are hiding?' The congressional reps tried inspecting the facility — where hundreds of immigrants are reportedly being held after being swept up in recent ICE raids — after receiving reports of unbearable heat and overcrowding to the point that detainees have been forced to sleep on bathroom floors, according to the New York Immigration Coalition. ADVERTISEMENT 'We are members or Congress, duly elected. Our constitutional right and our constitutional duty is to have oversight over these agencies and to ensure that we supervise and ascertain whether the conditions in these facilities are just or not, whether they're inhumane or not,' Rep. Espailllat said. 'Today ICE violated all of our rights because as an extension, we are here to defend your rights, the rights of the American people to have access and oversight to the federal buildings to ensure that everything is done correctly and in accordance to the law,' he said. 'We were denied that right today, a basic civil right, a constitutional right, that we as members of congress are here to uphold. So we will continue to come back. 'We will continue to come back until we are allowed to have access to the 10th floor.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congress members denied entry to Manhattan ICE facility, claim overcrowding, unsanitary conditions
Two members of Congress were blocked Sunday from entering an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Manhattan after trying to inspect it amid widespread detainments and claims of unbearable heat and overcrowding — including detainees being forced to sleep on bathroom floors. New York Democrat Representatives Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velazquez tried to perform a drop-in check at a temporary detainment facility at 26 Federal Plaza in Tribeca Sunday afternoon, but said they were illegally denied entry by an official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The pair argued that as elected officials, they have the legal right to inspect the facility unannounced. 'This is not Russia,' Rep. Velazquez said. 'This is the United States of America where we have three branches of government. The president of the United States is not a king. And we, as members of Congress, have the duly constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight in a place like this. What is it that they are hiding?' The congressional reps tried inspecting the facility — where hundreds of immigrants are reportedly being held after being swept up in recent ICE raids — after receiving reports of unbearable heat and overcrowding to the point that detainees have been forced to sleep on bathroom floors, according to the New York Immigration Coalition. 'We are members or Congress, duly elected. Our constitutional right and our constitutional duty is to have oversight over these agencies and to ensure that we supervise and ascertain whether the conditions in these facilities are just or not, whether they're inhumane or not,' Rep. Espailllat said. 'Today ICE violated all of our rights because as an extension, we are here to defend your rights, the rights of the American people to have access and oversight to the federal buildings to ensure that everything is done correctly and in accordance to the law,' he said. 'We were denied that right today, a basic civil right, a constitutional right, that we as members of congress are here to uphold. So we will continue to come back. 'We will continue to come back until we are allowed to have access to the 10th floor.'
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
NYC lawmakers say they were denied access to ICE facility at Federal Plaza
United States Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velazquez are condemning U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's practices in New York City and nationwide. The New York Democratic lawmakers said Sunday they were denied access to the 10th floor at 26 Federal Plaza, where they say the agency is detaining people. They warned that's just one of many concerning actions in the Trump administration's deportation program. Their attempt to get inside the building came after the NYPD clashed with protesters outside the facility on Saturday over recent ICE arrests. Police say 13 people were issued court summonses and nine were arrested and charged. Read more: Trump deploying National Guard to Los Angeles as immigration protests ramp up after citywide ICE operations "Today, ICE violated our rights" Immigration advocates say they have reason to believe that hundreds of immigrants are being held on the 10th floor in inhumane conditions. Espaillat and Velazquez said they attempted to tour the facility after waiting over an hour in the lobby, only to be denied access. They walked out of Federal Plaza frustrated. "Today, ICE violated all of our rights because, as an extension, we are here to defend your rights, the rights of the American people, to have access and oversight to the federal buildings to ensure that everything is done correctly and in accordance to the law. We were denied that right today, a basic civil right, a constitutional right that we as members of Congress are here to uphold," Espaillat said. The two members of Congress said a deputy denied them access to an immigration holding facility. "She said that it's an ICE facility and a sensitive facility," Espaillat said. Lawmakers say they're worried about conditions at Federal Plaza The representatives, along with immigration advocates, condemned recent ICE arrests at immigration hearings. They say advocates captured images which they say shows federal agents taking migrants into custody at court proceedings and ICE check-ins. They added that they're worried about the conditions migrants are facing, following reports of overcrowding, unbearable heat, and people being forced to sleep on the floor. "Traditionally have been detained for by some hours, but not overnight or not today or not three days," Velazquez said. CBS News New York reached out to ICE for a comment and it released a statement, saying, in part, "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is executing the president's mission of identifying and removing criminal aliens and other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws."
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Attacking Trump's Tariffs, Democrats Focus on Small Business Struggles
Since President Trump unleashed an on-again, off-again whiplash of global tariffs, congressional Democrats have worked to shine a spotlight on small business owners who say the tariffs and economic toil are threatening their livelihoods. In videos on social media, local news stories, Capitol Hill news conferences and hearings, Democrats have spotlighted the plight of local entrepreneurs who describe being forced to raise prices, lay off workers, freeze hiring and slow sales to conserve stock as they absorb the impact of Mr. Trump's trade moves. It is one way in which Democrats are trying to use the tariff issue in their broader strategy of portraying Mr. Trump and Republicans as catering to the rich and powerful at the expense of ordinary Americans. The focus comes as Democrats work to recast themselves as the party of working people and accuse Republicans, historically known as the party of business, of stifling American entrepreneurship. 'President Trump's trade war is economic arson on Main Street, and these folks are getting scorched,' Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, said at a news conference this week with several small business owners. 'The outcry that we hear from our small businesses echoes what we heard during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Representative Nydia M. Velázquez, the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee, at a shadow hearing held on Thursday by House Democrats. 'Except this time, the government is causing the pain, not working to alleviate it.' Democratic leaders have encouraged their rank-and-file members to focus on small businesses. Many of them did so last month when they fanned out across the country during a two-week recess. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Nydia Velazquez endorses Keith Powers for Manhattan borough president
NEW YORK — Rep. Nydia Velazquez has endorsed Keith Powers in his run for Manhattan borough president — the current councilmember's second congressional endorsement. The Puerto Rican congresswoman represented the Lower East Side for decades before redistricting shifted her district to parts of Brooklyn and Queens. She remains influential there, especially among Latino voters. 'As a proven leader on the Council, Keith has led the fight for building more affordable housing, lowering costs and making our city a better and more prosperous place to live,' Velazquez said in a statement. Powers is running against State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal in the race. Mark Levine, the sitting beep, is opting out of seeking reelection to instead run for city comptroller. The west side senator has previously won the backing of Reps. Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler, while Powers has nabbed the endorsement of Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
