U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken immediate action by removing an agent from duty following a shocking incident caught on camera, where the officer was seen forcefully throwing a distraught mother to the ground in a New York City courthouse. This distressing event, which occurred in front of the woman’s two young children, has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability.
This is not the first time that videos have revealed the aggressive tactics employed by immigration agents during the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation efforts. However, the visual evidence of this particular incident—one that I filmed for ProPublica—has prompted a rare public response from the government, indicating a potential shift in acknowledging the misconduct within its ranks.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, stated, “The officer’s conduct in this video is unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE. Our ICE law enforcement are held to the highest professional standards, and this officer is being relieved of current duties as we conduct a full investigation.” This statement underscores a growing recognition of the need for accountability in the face of increasing scrutiny over immigration enforcement practices.
As a journalist from Germany on assignment with Correctiv, a nonprofit investigative newsroom, my goal was to witness firsthand the realities of the ongoing immigration crackdown in the U.S. After only eight weeks in the country, I was already alarmed by videos depicting masked ICE agents apprehending immigrants in public spaces—images that seemed more fitting for a dystopian narrative than the land of the free.
Since my arrival, I have immersed myself in immigrant communities, visiting hospitals, churches, and ICE offices. In the past two weeks, I have consistently reported from a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, where I witnessed ICE agents forcibly separating families, leaving them in tears and pleading for mercy. However, the incident I recorded on Thursday marked an unprecedented escalation in the aggressive tactics employed by immigration enforcement.
Upon arriving at the courthouse on the 14th floor, I was drawn to the sound of a woman’s desperate pleas. Rounding the corner, I saw Monica Moreta-Galarza, a visibly distressed mother, confronting an ICE agent. She was crying, expressing her fears for her husband, who had recently been detained. In a moment that would escalate into chaos, she implored the officer to allow her to accompany her husband, fearing for his safety.
I began recording as the agent brusquely dismissed her concerns, repeating “Adios” while moving toward her in a threatening manner. When she did not comply with his demands to back away, he lunged at her, leading to the shocking moment captured on video that has since gone viral, including the terrified screams of her children.
Following this harrowing encounter, I accompanied Moreta-Galarza to the hospital, where she spoke to me about her experiences. An immigrant from Ecuador who has lived in Coney Island since last year, she shared her disbelief that such brutality could happen in the United States. “I didn’t think I’d come here to the United States and the same thing would happen to me,” she remarked, reflecting on the violence she had fled in her home country.
The day after the incident, I returned to the courthouse hoping to confront the agent who had tackled Moreta-Galarza. Known informally as “Victor” among his colleagues, he was nowhere to be found by the time I arrived. This absence raises critical questions about the accountability of ICE officers and the long-term consequences of their actions.
ProPublica remains committed to shedding light on these issues, aiming to effect change through investigative journalism. The response to my video has been unprecedented, but it leaves us wondering how the government will respond the next time a similar incident occurs. Inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security regarding the number of agents disciplined this year for misuse of force went unanswered, highlighting a concerning lack of transparency.
As the situation continues to unfold, the community and advocates for immigrant rights are left to grapple with the implications of this incident and the broader patterns of violence and disregard for human dignity that have characterized ICE operations. There is an urgent need for reform, accountability, and a re-evaluation of how immigration enforcement is conducted in the United States, ensuring that the rights and safety of individuals—especially families—are prioritized over punitive measures.
