By Harshit, New York | October 18, 2025 6:40 AM EDT
A shocking video from a Manhattan immigration courthouse has reignited debate over the use of force by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces mounting criticism for increasingly aggressive deportation operations under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The footage shows a masked ICE agent violently shoving Monica Moreta-Galarza, a mother of two, into a wall before forcing her to the ground as she screamed for her detained husband. The altercation, witnessed by several bystanders, left Moreta-Galarza hospitalized with possible head trauma and has become emblematic of the heavy-handed enforcement tactics seen nationwide in recent months.
Confrontation in the Hallway
According to multiple eyewitnesses, the incident occurred in late September inside the Manhattan immigration courthouse, where Moreta-Galarza’s husband was being taken into custody. As she clung to him and begged agents not to take him away, one officer grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back.
Moments later, she was taken to another room before being confronted by a plainclothes agent wearing a flannel shirt and baseball cap, who can be seen on video dismissing her pleas with “Adios, adios” before pushing her violently into a wall.
Her children, reportedly crying nearby, were held back by other agents.
The video, now circulating widely online, sparked outrage among immigrant rights groups and prompted calls for an independent investigation into ICE’s conduct.
Nationwide Pattern of Forceful Arrests
Experts and former federal officials told CNN the incident is part of a larger trend of aggressive enforcement since Trump took office, with agents increasingly conducting operations in plain clothes, driving unmarked vehicles, and detaining individuals in public spaces, courthouses, and workplaces.
In Chicago, tensions boiled over this week when an ICE operation ended in a crash and federal officers deployed tear gas against angry residents. Similar confrontations have been reported in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Portland in recent months.
DHS, however, defended its agents, saying they are being “smeared” by claims of excessive force. In a statement to CNN, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers “put their lives on the line every day” and are trained to use “the minimum amount of force necessary.”
She added that agents receive regular de-escalation training and that their actions prioritize public safety.
Experts Blame Political Pressure
Former DHS officials say the escalation in tactics reflects political pressure from the White House to meet deportation goals.
John Sandweg, former acting ICE director under President Barack Obama, said the agency has been “stretched thin” and that officers are being pushed to focus on numbers rather than targeting dangerous individuals.
“You don’t arrest people in immigration court who are on stays of removal unless you’re looking for cheap, fast, and easy arrests,” Sandweg told CNN.
He added that while ICE’s mission is to enforce immigration law, agents can do so “while treating people with dignity and respect.”
“Of course she’s going to have that reaction,” he said of Moreta-Galarza. “You just arrested her husband and the father of her children—maybe not to be seen again in this country.”
DHS Condemns Officer’s Actions—but Accountability Remains Murky
While DHS broadly defended ICE’s operations, it condemned the actions of the officer who shoved Moreta-Galarza, calling his behavior “unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE.”
The agency said the officer had been relieved of his current duties, but did not disclose his name, employment status, or whether disciplinary action had been taken. ICE did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Immigration advocates criticized what they described as “selective accountability,” arguing that one suspension does not address systemic issues within federal immigration enforcement.
Resources Shift After Border Crossings Drop
According to DHS, illegal border crossings dropped to “all-time lows” in July, freeing up agents for internal enforcement operations. Analysts say that as fewer resources are tied up at the border, ICE has increased its presence in U.S. cities, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations.
ICE is also slated to receive $75 billion in new federal funding through 2029 under the president’s national enforcement initiative, which includes plans to expand detention capacity and hire additional field agents.
Sandweg warned that expanding the agency’s budget and mandate without adequate oversight could worsen accountability issues. “More agents and more arrests don’t necessarily mean more justice,” he said.
Mounting Public Anger and Legal Challenges
Immigrant advocacy groups and civil rights organizations are calling for greater transparency and congressional oversight, arguing that the agency’s tactics erode trust in law enforcement and endanger families.
In New York and Chicago, protests have already broken out demanding reforms and legal protections for detainees and their families.
As Moreta-Galarza recovers from her injuries, her story has come to symbolize the growing tension between immigration enforcement and human rights, a divide that continues to widen under Trump’s immigration agenda.
