By Ebi Kesiena
A Nigerian immigrant, Chidozie Wilson Okeke, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alleging he was violently and unlawfully arrested in an incident that sparked chaotic protests in Brooklyn over the weekend.
Lawyers representing Okeke filed a petition in federal court, accusing masked ICE agents of “brutally” assaulting and unlawfully detaining him as he entered his parked vehicle in the Bushwick area on Saturday night.
According to the suit, the officers beat and used a Taser on Okeke before transporting him to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center for treatment.
The arrest triggered protests outside the hospital, where hundreds of demonstrators gathered, with some attempting to block an unmarked government vehicle carrying Okeke.
The lawsuit seeks his immediate release from detention, citing alleged violations of his constitutional rights and due process. Okeke, who authorities accuse of overstaying a tourist visa, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
His legal team also requested a court order preventing federal authorities from transferring him to another location, arguing that ICE officers lacked probable cause and a valid warrant during the arrest.
However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations, insisting the officers acted appropriately.
A spokesperson for the agency claimed Okeke resisted arrest, refused orders to exit his vehicle and attempted to use the car against officers.
The agency further alleged that he tried to punch and elbow officers, adding that only the “minimum force necessary” was used during the operation.
Videos of the arrest and the ensuing protests circulated widely on social media, intensifying public outrage.
Footage shared by immigration advocacy groups showed federal agents dragging Okeke from a vehicle, while another video captured officers carrying him from the hospital into another government vehicle.
The protests also led to multiple arrests. The New York City Police Department confirmed that eight people were arrested and charged with offences including resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
The incident has also drawn scrutiny toward the NYPD after videos surfaced showing officers forcefully confronting demonstrators. One widely circulated clip showed an officer throwing a protester to the ground, prompting criticism from local officials.
Meanwhile, an NYPD captain was transferred after he was caught on video making disparaging remarks about New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Party during the protests.
Immigration advocates and lawmakers have since questioned whether the NYPD violated New York’s sanctuary city laws by assisting ICE during the operation.
