Footage circulating widely on social media shows an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent repeatedly telling a distraught woman “adios” — Spanish for goodbye — before shoving her to the ground outside an immigration court in New York City. The woman’s husband had just been detained.
Officials confirmed that one agent has been suspended while an investigation is underway.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to curb illegal immigration since returning to the White House in January. ICE has been granted expanded resources and greater latitude in carrying out enforcement operations.
At the same time, arrests of suspected illegal immigrants crossing the southern border have dropped sharply. Some economists now warn the U.S. could be on track for its first-ever population decline.
What We Know
Video shared on X Thursday by Elaad Eliahu, a White House correspondent for Tim Cast media, shows a Latino man being taken into custody by masked ICE officers as his wife and children watch.
In a separate clip, the man’s wife confronts an officer, who responds with “adios” before pushing her to the ground in front of police and bystanders. The officer can then be heard saying, “get her out of the building.”
According to Eliahu, the incident took place outside a New York City immigration court. The clip showing the shove has gone viral, surpassing 10 million views on X.
ProPublica reporter Till Eckert also posted video from the scene, identifying the woman as Monica Moreta-Galarza, an asylum seeker from Ecuador. Afterward, she told reporters in Spanish: “Over [in Ecuador], they beat us there too. I didn’t think I’d come here to the United States and the same thing would happen to me.”
ICE has faced criticism in recent months for targeting migrants at or near immigration court hearings, a practice opponents say is intended to intimidate asylum seekers.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, later confirmed the ICE officer had been relieved of duties while a “full investigation” is conducted.
Moreta-Galarza was later escorted to the office of New York Congressman Dan Goldman before being taken to a hospital for possible head trauma.
A spokesperson for Goldman told Newsweek:
“Monica and her two children rushed to our office for safety immediately after the incident… They were accompanied by a pastor who has been working with the congressman to protect asylum seekers like Monica and her family, who are here lawfully with open asylum claims. Monica was shortly thereafter rushed to the hospital for possible head trauma, where our office called ahead to ensure she would be treated.”
Reaction
On X, Rep. Goldman condemned the incident, writing:
“Monica and her 2 young children fled to my office for safety after she was assaulted by this @ICEgov agent in an egregious act of excessive force. This is unacceptable conduct… Secretary Noem must take appropriate disciplinary action and implement measures to prevent this from happening again.”
Former U.S. attorney Joyce Alene also weighed in:
“This is a federal agent. He’s paid out of our taxpayer dollars. He should be put on leave without pay immediately, fired when he can be, and prosecuted for the excessive use of force. For heaven’s sake. What have we become?”
Others defended ICE. Conservative commentator Matthew Marsden responded to Eliahu’s post, writing:
“Got anything to say about her man who resisted ICE officers? How about the fact that she put her hands on the ICE officer? It’s posts like these that put our law enforcement at risk.”
What’s Next
ICE enforcement is expected to remain aggressive under the Trump administration. It is unclear whether the officer in this case will face long-term disciplinary action or other consequences.
