A Democratic New York congressman is calling for NYPD to potentially arrest federal immigration agents if they “illegally assault or detain New York residents.” “Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) was joined by Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams today for a press conference calling on New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to strictly enforce state and local laws and hold federal immigration agents accountable for unlawful conduct, including potentially arresting federal officers who illegally assault or detain New York residents,” a press release from Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) read. “The press conference followed Goldman’s letter to NYPD Commissioner Tisch, citing numerous instances of federal immigration officers abusing their authority and detaining, arresting, and deporting American citizens and law-abiding, non-violent New Yorkers,” the press release continued. “Despite what Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and their out-of-control masked ICE agents may believe, the rule of law still governs New York City,” Goldman said. “When federal agents falsely detain and violently arrest law-abiding New Yorkers, they are acting without legal authority and are therefore subject to New York law just like any other New Yorker. And if they use excessive force that violates those laws, then the NYPD must be prepared to intervene to protect New Yorkers, including, if necessary, to arrest and prosecute those ICE agents. New York City will not be terrorized by masked thugs carrying out Donald Trump’s authoritarian agenda,” he added. Watch footage from the press conference below: Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) says he wants NYPD to start arresting federal ICE officers. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander lies about ICE and says they’re not ID’ing themselves (they wear badges) and not presenting judicial warrants (they don’t need them unless entering a home or private… pic.twitter.com/zGcEnNOpOk — Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) October 21, 2025 THE CITY shared more: DHS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about Goldman’s letter. The department previously attacked him for saying masked ICE agents were deploying “getstapo-like behavior.” It’s also barred him and other members of Congress from inspecting the detention facility inside of 26 Federal Plaza despite those lawmakers having the legal right to make unannounced visits to all immigration lock-ups for oversight purposes. Spokespeople for the NYPD and the mayor’s office also didn’t immediately return requests for comment, and the mayoral campaigns of Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa didn’t say how each of them would handle federal officers breaking local laws at City Hall. As federal agents have surged into other cities like Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago, their militarized and often masked presence has been met by protests that agents have responded to with rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray. In Chicago, federal agents shot at least two people, killing one of them. Advocates say a similar crackdown in New York City is only a matter of time. Thus far, federal agents in New York City have focused their enforcement efforts inside government buildings at immigration courthouses and at ICE-check-ins, though street raids appear to be increasing. The Department of Homeland Security responded to ProPublica’s reporting by saying its “enforcement operations are HIGHLY TARGETED and are not resulting in the arrest of U.S. citizens.” Tricia McLaughlin, the department’s assistant secretary for public affairs, criticized Goldman’s request to the NYPD commissioner. “The real thugs NYPD should be helping arrest are the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens that Congressman Goldman and his fellow sanctuary politicians have allowed to terrorize the people of New York City,” she said, according to Gothamist. Legal experts question Rep. Goldman’s call for NYPD to arrest ICE agents if they act unlawfully https://t.co/ETzB6xiVFE — Gothamist (@Gothamist) October 21, 2025 Gothamist noted: Former ICE executive Scott Shuchart said he supported Goldman’s call because he believes immigration officers have in some instances been breaking the law. “Great, it’s about time,” said Shuchart, who served as ICE’s assistant director for regulatory affairs and policy in the Biden administration. “It is absolutely time for state prosecutors and state law enforcement to enforce their sovereign right to keep their people from being assaulted.” Still, several former federal prosecutors questioned whether it would be legal or feasible for the NYPD to police federal agents. “The NYPD cannot be utilized to police the federal police,” said Sarah Krissoff, a New York defense attorney who previously worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. “And even if the NYPD was allowed to do so, they are not equipped or trained to make determinations about the lawfulness of the actions of the ICE agents.” John Fishwick, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said federal agents are immune from prosecution for anything they think is authorized or part of their official duties. “Any prosecution of a federal ICE agent for a New York state criminal law violation would likely go nowhere,” he said in an email. Goldman, also a former federal prosecutor, said at the press conference he understands the principle of federal immunity, but added it should not apply in this instance. “The law is very clear. If you are acting outside the scope of your authority, you do not have protection from federal immunity,” he said.