2 US lawmakers condemn federal immigration agents’ entry into Columbia University residential building

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Reps. Jerry Nadler and Micah Lasher on Thursday condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who entered a residential building at Columbia University to detain a student.

"We are disgusted and outraged that ICE agents entered a Columbia University residential building under false pretenses and without a judicial warrant to detain a student," the Democrats said in a statement.

The statement came after the school said federal agents entered the building Thursday and detained a student. The school said it is working to gather more information.

Nadler and Lasher said the ICE has "no place" in New York schools and homes.

"Law enforcement agents should not, under no circumstance, misrepresent their identity to gain entrance into a residence. These actions do not keep us safe, they only sow distrust and fear into our community," they said.

The lawmakers also accused ICE of “terrorizing our neighbors and ripping students from their homes,” adding that they are working to assist the detained student.

Following the killing of two Americans by ICE agents in the state of Minnesota in January, Democrats have insisted on stronger oversight and tighter limits on immigration enforcement -- including banning the use of masks by ICE officers, requiring body cameras to remain on and mandating visible identification as conditions for supporting a federal funding bill.