Government Shutdown Freezes Out ICE Press Team — and Accountability

An officer watches as immigrants who entered the United States illegally are deported on a flight to El Salvador by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By David Brand

During the ongoing partial government shutdown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents continue to arrest and detain immigrants, but there is no one to answer to the press about it.

After ICE arrested a man outside the Queens Criminal Courthouse Wednesday afternoon, the Eagle contacted the agency by phone and email.

The phone call went to voicemail. The email generated an automatic response from the general press email address and four members of the ICE press team.

“All of ICE’s public affairs officers are out of the office for the duration of the government shutdown. We are unable to respond to media queries during this period because we are prohibited by law from working. If you still need a response, please resubmit your query upon the government re-opening,” read the emailed response.