Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) accused President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday of "sowing chaos" after footage emerged showing DHS officials handcuffing one of Nadler's aides during an apparent rioter hunt.

The White House and the DHS subsequently set the record straight, the White House telling Blaze News that Nadler's condemnation over law enforcement actions was "shameful."

Background

The DHS rescinded Biden administration guidelines last month that previously barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from making arrests in courthouses.

Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS' assistant secretary for public affairs, noted at the time that "the ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense," adding that it "conserves valuable law enforcement resources because they already know where a target will be."

Making good use of its newfound liberty, ICE arrested Dylan Josue Lopez Contreras, a 20-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela after his hearing in an immigration court in lower Manhattan on May 21.

The DHS noted that Contreras was an illegal alien who stole into the U.S. over a year ago and was cut loose by the Biden administration.

While characterized by the liberal media as a "Bronx high school student," Contreras — whom Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres (N.Y.) said was "making good on the promise of the American dream" — actually finished high school in his home country and was taking college prep classes at the time of his arrest. He now faces expedited removal proceedings.

RELATED: Courthouse footage spells trouble for Wisconsin judge accused of helping illegal alien evade ICE

Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

A week after Contreras' arrest, protesters descended on another immigration courthouse in the city — housed within the same federal facility as Nadler's Manhattan office — decrying the arrest of Contreras and other illegal aliens and clashing with police. According to the Gothamist, police arrested and charged five people and issued criminal summonses to 18 other radicals.

Incident in Nadler's office

While radicals raged against police outside, DHS Federal Protective Service officers entered the facility to ensure the safety of the federal employees on the premises, including in Nadler's office.

The DHS noted in a statement obtained by Blaze News that "upon arrival, officers were granted entry and encountered four individuals. Officers identified themselves and explained their intent to conduct a security check; however, one individual became verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office. The officers then detained the individual in the hallway for the purpose of completing the security check."

Footage obtained by Gothamist shows one officer handcuffing a congressional staffer, while another officer argues with someone off-camera about whether the detainee had shoved the arresting agent.

In conversation with another staffer blocking a doorway, an officer noted that he was checking to see whether Nadler's team was "harboring rioters in the office."

Nadler's team reportedly had immigrant rights activists in the office earlier for a meeting.

'I am alarmed by the aggressive and heavy-handed tactics DHS is employing in New York City.'

The DHS noted and Nadler confirmed that the staffers were released without further incident. The staffer who was handcuffed told the Gothamist that "everything resolved."

Nadler said in a statement that Trump and his agency "are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidation tactics against both citizens and noncitizens in a reckless and dangerous manner."

"In the most recent and deeply troubling incident, DHS agents forcefully entered my congressional office and handcuffed a member of my staff," continued Nadler. "While no arrests were made and the situation was quickly de-escalated, I am alarmed by the aggressive and heavy-handed tactics DHS is employing in New York City and across the country."

"The decision to enter a congressional office and detain a staff member demonstrates a deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries," continued Nadler. "If this can happen in a Member of Congress's office, it can happen to anyone — and it is happening."

Nadler told the New York Times, "They’re behaving like fascists."

RELATED: 'Gestapo-like behavior': Another Democrat compares ICE to Nazis who 'terrorize people' in the night

Photographer: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The White House backed the DHS' account and slammed Nadler for his apparent spin.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Blaze News, "FPS officers were responding to information that protesters were present inside the congressman's office and were initially granted entry, but unfortunately an individual became confrontational and tried to physically block access for the officers completing a security check."

"It's shameful that Russia hoaxer and Trump derangement sufferer Jerry Nadler would choose to attack law enforcement officers for doing their job because he disagrees with President Trump's immigration policy," added Jackson.

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