On Thursday afternoon, the usually bustling halls of 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan fell silent as alarms sounded and employees were told to evacuate. The cause: five mysterious envelopes containing a white powder had been discovered in the mailroom on the ninth floor, home to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the New York City field office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), among other federal agencies. The incident, which unfolded around 4 p.m. on August 14, 2025, quickly drew a swift response from first responders and hazmat teams, who arrived on the scene within just four minutes, according to multiple reports from CBS News New York and ABC Audio.
As news of the evacuation spread, anxiety mounted both inside and outside the 41-story government building, which has long been a focal point for immigration enforcement and controversy. The envelopes were found by personnel in the ICE Enforcement and Removal Office, and at least two people were exposed to the powder, authorities said. Both individuals were evaluated and, according to officials speaking with WABC, are expected to be okay. "Today's event was under control almost immediately, without incident," Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry assured the public during a press briefing.
Authorities wasted no time in treating the situation with the utmost seriousness. Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York field office, explained, "Weapons of Mass Destruction and Hazard Evidence response teams immediately responded to the scene. The building was evacuated as per standard protocol and right now no threat remains to any employees or the public at this time." Raia further noted, "In the majority of my experience, most of these incidents turn out to be nothing. However, this matter is not going to be taken lightly. Sending threatening letters of this nature, whether real or a hoax, is a crime."
The five letters containing the powder were promptly sent to the FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia for further testing. Meanwhile, initial on-site tests indicated the powder was boric acid—a substance commonly used in pesticides and other chemicals, which can be harmful if ingested but is not classified as a weapon or highly toxic in small quantities. Despite the preliminary findings, Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the gravity of the situation, telling radio station 1010 WINS on Friday, "No dangerous substances were involved in the incident, but it is still a serious crime. We are going to make sure the person responsible will be brought to justice."
While the immediate threat was contained, the incident reignited debate about the broader role and conditions at 26 Federal Plaza. The building, which also houses the FBI's New York field office and an immigration court, has often been at the center of heated protests and public scrutiny, especially during the Trump administration's intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Activists and advocates have long criticized the conditions for migrants temporarily held within the facility, particularly at the so-called "holding facility" located on the 10th floor.
In recent months, these concerns reached a boiling point. On August 12, just two days before the powder scare, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan issued a temporary restraining order that required the federal government to reduce the number of detainees and improve conditions at the facility. The order mandated that detainees be provided with sleeping mats, hygiene products, and confidential access to legal counsel. During the court hearing, a government attorney conceded that those detained by ICE at 26 Federal Plaza did not have access to certain basic services, including in-person legal visits, medication, and more than two meals per day. The judge’s order came in response to allegations of unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, which the Department of Homeland Security has firmly denied.
"It is a processing center where illegal aliens are briefly processed to be transferred to an ICE detention facility," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated to CBS News New York. "All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. As we arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens and public safety threats from the U.S., ICE has worked diligently to obtain greater necessary detention space while avoiding overcrowding."
Yet, the building’s reputation as a flashpoint for immigration battles is hard to shake. Over the past year, it has repeatedly been the site of protests—some peaceful, others more confrontational—against ICE operations and what activists describe as "deplorable conditions" for migrants. The tension reached a new level in June 2025 when New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested while observing proceedings at the building’s immigration court. Lander was accused of assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer but, as of now, has not been formally charged.
Thursday’s incident, while ultimately not resulting in harm, highlighted the persistent sense of unease that surrounds 26 Federal Plaza. For many employees and visitors, the evacuation was a stark reminder of the building’s dual role as both a workplace and a symbol of contentious federal policies. Some individuals were instructed to shelter in place as part of established safety protocols, according to a DHS statement. For those on the outside, the sight of hazmat-suited responders and cordoned-off streets brought back memories of past scares involving suspicious substances in the mail—incidents that have, on occasion, turned deadly.
Despite the all-clear, questions remain about the motive behind the powder-laced letters. Was it a targeted act of intimidation against ICE, DHS, or other federal agencies? Or was it, as some officials have speculated, an ill-conceived prank intended to disrupt operations and sow fear? For now, the investigation continues, with authorities pledging to pursue the perpetrator vigorously. As Mayor Adams put it, "We are going to make sure the person responsible will be brought to justice."
For employees returning to work at 26 Federal Plaza, life will no doubt return to normal—at least on the surface. But beneath that routine, the building remains a microcosm of America’s ongoing struggles with immigration, public safety, and the ever-present threat of disruption in a city that never truly sleeps.
