Federal authorities are investigating after envelopes containing an unidentified white powder were found at a government building in New York City that houses an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, officials said Thursday.
The incident occurred Thursday afternoon at 26 Federal Plaza, in Manhattan’s Foley Square, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.
The five letters were found at about 4 p.m. in the mailroom of the ICE Enforcement and Removal Office on the ninth floor, according to the FBI.
There are no known injuries or any threat to the public at this time, city officials said.
“We are working to assess the potential threat,” said Christopher Raia, FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York field office, during a press briefing Thursday evening.
“In the majority of my experience, most of these incidents turn out to be nothing. However, this matter is not going to be taken lightly,” said Raia, who noted that “sending threatening letters of this nature, whether real or a hoax, is a crime.”
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Personnel in the ICE ERO office found the envelopes, according to Raia, who said two people were initially exposed.
The substance is currently undergoing testing, officials said.
Hazmat teams were on the ground “to ensure the safety of everyone inside and outside of the building” while awaiting the test results, the mayor said.
The building was evacuated “per standard protocol,” Raia said.
New York City Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry said the city and federal partners are investigating and urged people to avoid the area.
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The 41-floor office building is home to ICE’s New York City field office, as well as the FBI’s New York field office and an immigration court. It has made headlines and been the site of frequent protests over ICE operations in the city amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
A so-called “holding facility” for detained migrants is located on the 10th floor of the building. Following allegations of unsanitary conditions there, a federal judge this week ordered the Trump administration to ensure the facility is not overcrowded and that detainees are provided with hygiene products and confidential access to lawyers. The Department of Homeland Security denied the conditions in the facility were subprime.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested in June while observing proceedings at the building’s immigration court. He was accused of assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer but has not been charged.
