Latest news with #white powder
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
White powder found at ICE NYC field office was non-hazardous, police sources say
A suspicious white powder that forced the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in New York City to evacuate was non-hazardous, police sources say. CBS News New York has reached out to the FBI, which is leading the investigation, and Department of Homeland Security about the test results. Hazmat teams responded late Thursday afternoon to 26 Federal Plaza, which houses DHS and ICE offices in Lower Manhattan, after the unknown substance was discovered in envelopes in the mailroom. Some people in the building were evacuated, while others were ordered to shelter in place after at least two people were exposed to the powder, officials said. The NYPD urged people to avoid the area before it was determined there was no threat to the public or building workers. Authorities said the five envelopes would be sent to the FBI's headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, for testing. Please stay with CBS News New York for updates.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
ICE office evacuated after white powder is found
A federal office building in New York City was evacuated after employees found an envelope containing white powder. New York City firefighters received a call about the suspicious material at around 3.55pm, and fire crews and police officers soon rushed to the scene of 26 Federal Plaza, The Hill reports. The building houses the city's Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office as well as the Department of Homeland Security, though it is unclear if the suspicious envelope was directed at either office, CBS News reports. Officials quickly evacuated the building and there were no immediate reports of anyone feeling ill, according to NBC 4 New York. The federal building has been the site of several protests last week, after civil rights groups claimed detainees housed at the ICE facility are not provided with sufficient access to their lawyers or medications, and are forced to endure extreme temperatures. But the Department of Homeland Security has denied that the building is being used as a detention center and argued that allegations of overcrowding or poor conditions are 'categorically false.' 'It is a processing center where illegal aliens are briefly processed to be transferred to an ICE Detention Facility,' Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CBS. 'All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers.' 'As we arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens and public safety threats from the US, ICE has worked diligently to obtain greater necessary detention space while avoiding overcrowding,' she added. On Tuesday, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan announced he would block the Trump administration from using the federal building to hold migrants unless ICE improves the conditions. Those include delivering several items to the migrants held at the federal building, upon request, such as bedding mats, blankets, clean clothing, feminine hygiene products and necessary medications.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Envelopes with unknown white powder found in ICE office in NYC: FBI
Federal authorities are investigating after envelopes containing an unidentified white powder were found at a government building in New York City that houses an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, officials said Thursday. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon at 26 Federal Plaza, in Manhattan's Foley Square, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. The five letters were found at about 4 p.m. in the mailroom of the ICE Enforcement and Removal Office on the ninth floor, according to the FBI. There are no known injuries or any threat to the public at this time, city officials said. "We are working to assess the potential threat," said Christopher Raia, FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's New York field office, during a press briefing Thursday evening. "In the majority of my experience, most of these incidents turn out to be nothing. However, this matter is not going to be taken lightly," said Raia, who noted that "sending threatening letters of this nature, whether real or a hoax, is a crime." MORE: Texas Democrats staying in Illinois evacuated over bomb threat Personnel in the ICE ERO office found the envelopes, according to Raia, who said two people were initially exposed. The substance is currently undergoing testing, officials said. Hazmat teams were on the ground "to ensure the safety of everyone inside and outside of the building" while awaiting the test results, the mayor said. The building was evacuated "per standard protocol," Raia said. New York City Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry said the city and federal partners are investigating and urged people to avoid the area. MORE: Judge orders DHS to improve conditions at New York City facility holding detained migrants The 41-floor office building is home to ICE's New York City field office, as well as the FBI's New York field office and an immigration court. It has made headlines and been the site of frequent protests over ICE operations in the city amid the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented immigrants. A so-called "holding facility" for detained migrants is located on the 10th floor of the building. Following allegations of unsanitary conditions there, a federal judge this week ordered the Trump administration to ensure the facility is not overcrowded and that detainees are provided with hygiene products and confidential access to lawyers. The Department of Homeland Security denied the conditions in the facility were subprime. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested in June while observing proceedings at the building's immigration court. He was accused of assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer but has not been charged.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Buildings evacuated after alarming discovery inside New York City ICE office
A federal office building in New York City was evacuated after employees found an envelope containing white powder. New York City firefighters received a call about the suspicious material at around 3.55pm, and fire crews and police officers soon rushed to the scene of 26 Federal Plaza, The Hill reports. Officials quickly evacuated the building and there were no immediate reports of anyone feeling ill, according to NBC 4 New York. The building houses the city's Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office as well as the Department of Homeland Security, though it is unclear if the suspicious envelope was directed at either office, CBS News reports. Hazmat teams now remain at the building while test results are pending, and city officials are asking residents to avoid the area as the investigation continues.
