This week's episode of the Hell Gate Podcast arrives tomorrow. Make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
On Monday evening, a thirty-something New Yorker we're calling Jane was on her way back to the city from vacation, traveling on a Delta flight from Mexico City to JFK. When she landed late Monday evening, the passengers were antsy to get off the plane and get on with their lives—but then, Jane said, a surprised-looking flight attendant told everyone to get back into their seats and be quiet.
A man wearing a black trench coat and an ID tag around his neck then boarded the plane, and asked the flight attendant to read a list of what Jane described as Spanish-sounding names, and for those passengers to come forward. Through the plane window, Jane could see two men in uniform, clearly marked as ICE agents, standing on the catwalk.
"You could cut the tension on the plane with a knife," said Jane, who asked to remain anonymous to freely discuss the behavior of federal agents, adding that she felt like it was "straight-up gestapo behavior."