Woman pepper sprayed by ICE agents in Manhattan files federal claim against agency
Jul 30, 2026·Location: Upper Manhattan, NY

Two ICE agents pepper sprayed two community members without provocation near Seaman and Isham Avenue in Upper Manhattan, according to a video posted on social media and stopice.net. The agents approached one community member and sprayed her and another person in the face before walking away, and were not under threat at the time. One of the women, Linda Wolff, a 72-year-old immigrant rights supporter, said she was recording ICE agents making arrests in Inwood when an agent sprayed her with pepper spray. Wolff has since filed a federal tort claim against ICE, represented by civil rights attorney John Burris, while ICE said its officers used the minimum amount of force necessary.
Sources
- 72-year-old NYC woman who says she was pepper-sprayed by ICE agent now pursuing legal action
CBS News·Aug 3, 2026·archived copy
- 72-year-old woman says she was hit with pepper spray while recording ICE agents in Manhattan
NBC News·Aug 17, 2026
- ICE pepper-sprayed NYC woman, 72, in the face. Gov. Hochul is peeved.
Gothamist·Aug 4, 2026·archived copy
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