RismadarVoice Reporters, August 17, 2026
A 72-year-old immigration rights supporter has accused an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer of violating her civil rights after she was allegedly pepper-sprayed while recording agents making arrests in Manhattan.
Linda Wolff said the incident occurred about three weeks ago in Inwood, where she had gone after learning that ICE agents were conducting immigration arrests in the area.
Wolff said she began recording the agents with her phone while standing on the pavement. According to her, the officers approached her and sprayed her with pepper spray.
She described the incident as a violation of her constitutional rights and said she now intends to pursue legal action against the agency.
Wolff made the allegations during a press conference attended by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, where officials discussed new state measures concerning immigration enforcement.
One of the laws prohibits local police departments from assisting with federal immigration enforcement, while another allows individuals to pursue legal action against individual federal ICE officers in state court when they allege violations of their constitutional rights.
Wolff said she was grateful for the legislation and described herself as the first person to use the legal provision to challenge an alleged abuse by an ICE officer.
Civil rights attorney John Burris is representing Wolff and has filed a federal tort claim against ICE in connection with the incident.
Burris criticised the use of force and called for greater accountability among immigration officers, particularly when officers conceal their identities behind masks and badges.
He said identifying individual officers was important when allegations of misconduct arise.
ICE, however, denied that its officers used excessive force.
An agency spokesperson said the officers involved had followed their training and used the minimum level of force necessary during the encounter.
Wolff’s legal team is also representing other individuals in separate lawsuits alleging excessive use of force by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
