Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) joined elected officials representing areas surrounding the Penn Station complex in sending a letter to National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) President Roger Harris regarding reports of purportedly discriminatory arrests made by Amtrak Police in Penn Station.

According to reporting, Amtrak Police started targeting a men’s bathroom Penn Station, focusing on members of the LGBTQ community. Amtrak Police made 23 arrests in June and are now making as many as 20 arrests per day for “public lewdness” through their targeted campaign using undercover plainclothes police officers. The police are reportedly employing questionable and potentially discriminatory tactics by using apps popular with gay men and approaching and propositioning people trying to use the bathroom.

“First, we demand that Amtrak Police immediately cease identifying and targeting members of the LGBTQ community for search, seizure and arrest on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, which likely constitutes discriminatory treatment in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Second, we request an urgent meeting for further discussion with you and representatives from Amtrak Police,” the lawmakers continued. “Specifically, it is imperative that Amtrak provide clarification or justification for its reported arrest campaign and commit to exploring alternatives that further Amtrak’s goals without subjecting New Yorkers to arrest and detention solely on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The lawmakers went on to explain that there is a long and painful tradition of police forces using loitering, identification, prostitution, lewdness, and similar laws to target LGBTQ people for harassment, arrest, and incarceration. While Amtrak is entitled to ensure that its facilities are not used for illicit purposes, the lawmakers do not believe Amtrak should be doing so with a hostile arrest campaign reminiscent of anti-LGBTQ policing during the Stonewall era.

Representative Nadler joined State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, State Senator Liz Krueger, and Assembly Member Tony Simone in sending the letter. 

Read the full letter here and below.

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Dear Mr. Harris:

According to the reporting, Amtrak Police made 23 arrests for “public lewdness” at Penn Station in June 2025 and is now making up to 20 such arrests per day. The reporting also indicates that many of these charges have been ultimately dropped but only after LGBTQ New Yorkers have been handcuffed and arrested. In at least one case, an arrestee was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Finally, the reporting indicates that undercover Amtrak Police are using constitutionally dubious tactics to target individuals they perceive as targets for arrest, including by using apps popular with gay men and by approaching and propositioning users of the bathroom.

First, we demand that Amtrak Police immediately cease identifying and targeting members of the LGBTQ community for search, seizure and arrest on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, which likely constitutes discriminatory treatment in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Second, we request an urgent meeting for further discussion with you and representatives from Amtrak Police. Specifically, it is imperative that Amtrak provide clarification or justification for its reported arrest campaign and commit to exploring alternatives that further Amtrak’s goals without subjecting New Yorkers to arrest and detention solely on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

As you may know, there is a long and painful tradition of police forces using loitering, identification, prostitution, lewdness, and similar laws to target LGBTQ people for harassment, arrest, and incarceration. Just a few years ago, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey settled a class action lawsuit over similar arrests and promised to end patrols similar to those currently being conducted by the Amtrak Police. While Amtrak is entitled to ensure that its facilities are not used for illicit purposes, we do not believe Amtrak should be doing so with a hostile arrest campaign reminiscent of anti-LGBTQ policing from the Stonewall era.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please contact Representative Nadler’s office at your earliest convenience to schedule our meeting request in order that we may discuss this important issue further.