Three New York Police Department (NYPD) detectives seeking medical treatment at a Brooklyn hospital were allegedly told to leave after staff mistook them for federal immigration agents, according to a Wednesday report.
The plainclothes officers arrived at NYU Langone Health in Cobble Hill Friday after a drug suspect allegedly spat on them during a narcotics investigation in Brooklyn North, the New York Post reported. Hospital staff allegedly accused the detectives of being ICE agents and suggested they seek care elsewhere, according to sources familiar with the incident. The officers had properly identified themselves as NYPD, a source told the outlet. (RELATED: ‘Not Making Any Payments’: Trump Declares He’s Cutting Off Funds To Sanctuary Cities)
An NYPD spokesperson told Fox News Digital that hospital representatives apologized to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Staff had a “misunderstanding of their policy,” the spokesperson said. Tisch requested that all hospital employees undergo retraining to prevent similar incidents.
The NYPD Detectives’ Endowment Association (DEA) called the alleged treatment an outrage in an X post.
“No one—especially Detectives injured in the line of duty—should face such treatment,” the union said. The group said it would pursue “all available remedies” on behalf of its members.
Last week, two NYPD Detectives were mistreated while seeking medical attention at NYU Langone – Cobble Hill Emergency Room after being injured on duty during the arrest of a violent perpetrator. Upon arrival, they were met with rudeness, disrespect, and a lack of basic… pic.twitter.com/HHkNR9Mm71
— Detectives’ Endowment Association (@NYCPDDEA) January 21, 2026
The incident occurred while thousands of nurses across the city were on strike, Fox News reported. Former Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a retired NYPD captain, condemned the hospital and called on Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to hold it accountable.
“A hospital that politicizes emergency care is no longer a hospital. It’s an activist institution pretending to practice medicine,” Adams wrote on X. “These NYPD officers put their lives on the line. Medical staff are sworn to treat the injured, not pass political judgment.”
NYU Langone told Fox News Digital it expressed regret to Tisch for how staff handled the situation. The hospital noted it provided care to nearly 1,000 NYPD officers in 2025. A representative reportedly did not confirm or deny that staff referenced ICE.
Under New York City’s sanctuary policies, ICE agents cannot enter hospitals without a judicial warrant, ABC7 reported. Federal agents often wear tactical gear labeled “Police” without displaying badges, according to the outlet.