"Immigration Agents Barge In: A Brooklyn Family's Traumatic Nightmare"
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the immigrant community, federal immigration officers stormed into the Brooklyn home of Hayk Safaryan last summer without a judicial warrant or consent. The traumatic experience left 44-year-old Armenian immigrant Hayk and his wife Léah in a state of distress, as they claim their constitutional rights were flagrantly disregarded.
According to written court testimony from Léah, the drama unfolded when immigration agents knocked on the couple's door early one morning, asking for identification. Unbeknownst to them, an "armed SWAT team" consisting of six heavily armed officers burst into their apartment, detaining Hayk and seizing his personal documents.
Hayk Safaryan, who has lived in the US for over two decades, was simply sitting at his computer and enjoying breakfast when the unexpected visitors arrived. His wife, Léah, describes the scene as "a very aggressive manner" where a woman with a bulletproof vest brandished a huge weapon, yelling at her to return to their bedroom and close the door.
The officers allegedly refused to respond to Léah's repeated questions about their presence in the apartment or whether they had a warrant. They confiscated Hayk's identification documents, passport, and social security card, as well as rummaged through their personal belongings.
Hayk was eventually handcuffed, escorted outside, and thrown into a black van parked outside their apartment building. In the aftermath of the arrest, Léah reported that armed officers returned to their apartment building just three days later, this time without knocking or announcing themselves, sparking fear for her safety and well-being.
The couple's ordeal is now being scrutinized by advocacy groups, including the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), which has long advocated for due process rights. "ICE's abuses threaten all of our constitutional rights," said Molly Biklen, NYCLU legal director. "As Trump launches such a serious, highly dangerous attack on due process, it's critical New Yorkers remember their rights under the Fourth Amendment: you do not have to open your door unless an immigration officer shows you a judicial warrant."
Hayk Safaryan is currently facing charges of grand larceny, accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home renovation project but failing to complete it. He has been in ICE custody since June, with his lawyer arguing that the agency's actions have denied him due process.
The controversy surrounding immigration agents' enforcement actions has reached a boiling point, with Senate Democrats demanding further restrictions on federal immigration agents and New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposing legislation to limit their access to sensitive locations without judicial warrants.
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the immigrant community, federal immigration officers stormed into the Brooklyn home of Hayk Safaryan last summer without a judicial warrant or consent. The traumatic experience left 44-year-old Armenian immigrant Hayk and his wife Léah in a state of distress, as they claim their constitutional rights were flagrantly disregarded.
According to written court testimony from Léah, the drama unfolded when immigration agents knocked on the couple's door early one morning, asking for identification. Unbeknownst to them, an "armed SWAT team" consisting of six heavily armed officers burst into their apartment, detaining Hayk and seizing his personal documents.
Hayk Safaryan, who has lived in the US for over two decades, was simply sitting at his computer and enjoying breakfast when the unexpected visitors arrived. His wife, Léah, describes the scene as "a very aggressive manner" where a woman with a bulletproof vest brandished a huge weapon, yelling at her to return to their bedroom and close the door.
The officers allegedly refused to respond to Léah's repeated questions about their presence in the apartment or whether they had a warrant. They confiscated Hayk's identification documents, passport, and social security card, as well as rummaged through their personal belongings.
Hayk was eventually handcuffed, escorted outside, and thrown into a black van parked outside their apartment building. In the aftermath of the arrest, Léah reported that armed officers returned to their apartment building just three days later, this time without knocking or announcing themselves, sparking fear for her safety and well-being.
The couple's ordeal is now being scrutinized by advocacy groups, including the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), which has long advocated for due process rights. "ICE's abuses threaten all of our constitutional rights," said Molly Biklen, NYCLU legal director. "As Trump launches such a serious, highly dangerous attack on due process, it's critical New Yorkers remember their rights under the Fourth Amendment: you do not have to open your door unless an immigration officer shows you a judicial warrant."
Hayk Safaryan is currently facing charges of grand larceny, accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home renovation project but failing to complete it. He has been in ICE custody since June, with his lawyer arguing that the agency's actions have denied him due process.
The controversy surrounding immigration agents' enforcement actions has reached a boiling point, with Senate Democrats demanding further restrictions on federal immigration agents and New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposing legislation to limit their access to sensitive locations without judicial warrants.
it's like they're trying to erase people's rights left and right. i mean, what's the point of having a constitution if they just gonna ignore it? and what's up with all these arrests and detention centers? it's just so... unfair. ICE needs to get their act together and learn how to do this thing called due process properly. 
this is so messed up 
how can they just barge into someones home like that? 
it's all about money and power, folks. the fact that this guy's being held on a minor charge like grand larceny is ridiculous 
when you consider how harshly he was treated by the immigration agents. ICE needs to get its act together and start following some basic rules 
maybe then we can talk about due process 
No warrant, no warning... it's crazy! And the part where they're detaining him without even checking if he's a threat is wild 
. The fact that they had to come in like an "armed SWAT team" and rummage through their stuff just shows how out of control things have gotten at ICE. 
I mean, what's next? Showing up at people's doors uninvited because they have a different accent or something? 
This is so crazy! Can you imagine someone bursting into your home with guns drawn? 
And to make matters worse, Hayk was even handcuffed and thrown into a van without being told what he was being arrested for! 
We need to make sure that our leaders are protecting everyone's civil liberties, not just those who are already vulnerable.
And I think it's awesome that advocacy groups like the NYCLU are speaking out against ICE's abuses. 
this whole thing is just so wrong... like, who does that? 
i mean, imagine if someone did that to your family... it's not okay. 
they're basically being punished for something that has nothing to do with their immigration status. it's all about process, you know? due process... it's supposed to be in place to protect people from things like this. 
. the fact that they were detained without explanation and had their personal stuff taken is just so invasive and humiliating. and now hayk's facing charges because of some alleged renovation project that's got nothing to do with the whole thing it's just another example of how messed up our immigration system is. ICE needs to get its act together and learn what due process means 
The fact that they were armed and created this traumatic experience for the Safaryan family is just outrageous. And now Hayk's in ICE custody and his lawyer is saying it's all because of due process rights being trampled on? 
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this whole thing just stinks. 
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. Anyone else feeling like something needs to change?