The Voice News : Tensions between House Democrats and the Trump administration have escalated following a dramatic incident in which Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents forcibly entered Rep. Jerry Nadler’s (D-N.Y.) Manhattan office and briefly detained one of his staffers.
According to DHS, the agents were searching for protesters and accused Nadler’s office of “harboring rioters.” Rep. Nadler, however, called the claim false and said his aide — a petite young woman — was shoved by a large DHS officer before being handcuffed and taken downstairs. “She was obviously traumatized,” Nadler told CNN, calling the agents’ conduct “outrageous” and demanding a formal investigation.
The incident is the latest flashpoint in a growing conflict between Democrats and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. Critics say Trump’s team has increasingly bypassed legal norms and weaponized federal agencies against political adversaries.
The office in question is located within a federal building that also houses an immigration court. Protesters had gathered there amid accusations that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were expediting the deportation of migrants — in some cases, even those complying with court orders.
According to Gothamist, which first reported the incident, two protesters said ICE officers had threatened to arrest them before a Nadler staffer invited them into the congressional office for safety. DHS later claimed its officers, part of the Federal Protective Service (FPS), entered the office for security reasons after receiving reports of protesters inside.
“A staff member physically blocked entry and became confrontational,” the agency said in a statement. “The individual was detained briefly and later released without further incident.”
Footage from the scene shows the Nadler aide in tears as she is handcuffed. Nadler insisted those present were “observers,” not rioters.
House Democrats have condemned the incident as a blatant overreach. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said the intrusion into Nadler’s office “demands disciplinary action,” accusing the Trump administration of using “authoritarian tactics” to intimidate critics.
“This is not just about immigration enforcement — it’s about the erosion of democratic norms,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). “The administration is clearly trying to intimidate Democrats, but the American people won’t bow to a wannabe king.”
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who was recently charged with assaulting ICE officers during a protest, also denied wrongdoing and said the administration is retaliating against dissent.
While DHS maintains that the agents acted in the interest of security, nearly two dozen people were arrested in connection with the protests near the building. Democrats insist the federal response reflects a pattern of intimidation and disregard for constitutional boundaries.
“The Constitution requires checks and balances,” Goldman said. “We will not be silenced.”