A suspicious white powder that led to the evacuation of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan was determined to be non-hazardous after testing, police sources said on Friday.
Hazmat teams responded Thursday afternoon after five envelopes containing the substance were discovered in a mailroom on the ninth floor of the building, which houses ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and an immigration court. Some personnel were evacuated, while others were instructed to shelter in place after two people were initially exposed.
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The five envelopes have been sent to the FBI's headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, for further testing, but police sources consulted by CBS News have confirmed that the powder was non-hazardous.
Mayor Eric Adams said on Thursday that the incident occurred at approximately 4 p.m. and that city and federal partners were investigating, urging the public to avoid the area. Hazmat teams remained on site "to ensure the safety of everyone inside and outside of the building," the mayor added.
New Yorkers, I have been preliminarily briefed on the matter unfolding at 26 Federal Plaza where envelopes containing white powder were discovered. I want to also reassure you that there are no known injuries at this time.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 14, 2025
The building's ICE Enforcement and Removal Office has been the site of scrutiny over detention practices as of late. A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration must limit the number of detainees and provide hygiene products and sleeping mats in the center, following reports of overcrowding and poor conditions.
A report by Gothamist, published in early July, described overcrowding in the facility, as well as limited access to food and hygiene, and prolonged stays in cells not intended for overnight occupancy. One detainee, Derlis Chusin Toaquiza, reportedly spent two days in a room with over 60 people, while another described six days with nearly 100 people in the facility.
DHS has stated that 26 Federal Plaza is a "processing center," not a detention facility. "It is a Federal building with an ICE law enforcement office inside of it," said the agency's spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin through a statement to Gothamist. But lawmakers, including Reps. Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler, say this classification is being used to deny oversight visits. "That is not what this country's about," Goldman said.
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