Hundreds of people came to the protests that broke out in New York city Tuesday night after Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids related to “the sale of counterfeit goods” were carried out in the Chinatown area earlier in the day, resulting in the arrest of an unknown number of people.
Hours after federal agents arrived in lower Manhattan, demonstrators were seen gathering outside the immigration building at 26 Federal Plaza, where they believed the detainees were being taken. Many shouted chants, including: “Ice from New Yorkand “No Ice, no KKK, no fascist USA.”
Video raid show Several armed, masked federal agents zip up and detain the man and push back onlookers. Crowds of New Yorkers followed the agents along the streets and sidewalks. An armored military vehicle was also seen rolling through the city streets.
“Is it worth the salary? Selling my soul?” One woman can be heard yelling at the agents.
The raid, which observers said involved more than 50 federal agents, took place in a notorious area of Manhattan where counterfeit bags, accessories, jewelry and other goods are sold in droves every day, often to tourists.
It is unknown how many people were detained during the raid, but an eyewitness said New York Daily News that he saw at least seven people taken into custody.
The Department of Homeland Security told the New York Times that the operation was “focused on criminal activity related to the sale of counterfeit products.” Trisha McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, said the operation was led by Ice, the FBI, the U.S. Border Patrol and others.
The Guardian has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
Murad Awaude, vice president of the New York Immigration Coalition, condemned the raid to reporters Tuesday evening and said between 15 and 40 vendors were arrested. Awaude also noted that at least two local residents were taken into custody for protesting and blocking Ice's efforts.
“You don't see scenes like this in democracies. You see them in fascist regimes,” Awaude told the crowd. “We need to keep standing up and fighting back.”
This was announced by local city councilor Christopher Marte. City that he, too, was alarmed by the agents' behavior.
“The amount of guns they had on the street were pointed at passers-by, which is something I've never seen in my life,” he said.
The NYPD distanced itself from the raids. tweeted this he “did not participate in the federal operation that took place this afternoon on Canal Street.” However, viewers marked that New York City riot police arrested several people protesting the ice raid.
Eric Adamsmayor of New York, quote on Twitter The NYPD's message stressed: “New York does not cooperate with federal law enforcement on civil deportations under our local laws.”
“As we gather details about the situation, New Yorkers should know that we have nothing to do with this. Our administration has made it clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to achieve their American dreams should not be the target of law enforcement, and instead resources should be focused on violent criminals,” he wrote.
New York City Mayoral Candidates Zoran Mamdani And Andrew Cuomo shared similar criticisms with Mamdani I'm calling raid 'aggressive and reckless' and Cuomo I'm calling it is “more about fear than justice, more about politics than security.”
And men – and Kathy HochulGovernor of New York – took aim at Donald Trump directly.
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“[Donald Trump] claims to target “the worst of the worst.” Today, his agents used batons and pepper spray against street vendors and passers-by on Canal Street. Attacking New Yorkers will not make New York safer,” Hochul wrote.
“Again, Trump administration chooses authoritarian theater productions that create fear rather than safety. This must stop,” Mamdani wrote.
“Today's ICE raid in Chinatown was an abuse of federal power by the Trump Administration,” Cuomo wrote.
New York City Council member Shahana Hanif also condemned the ice raids at the press conference, saying politicians across the city and state are strongly opposed to ice raids.
“We are against Ice's frankly brutal tactics. The appearance of hordes of ice agents is unacceptable, immoral and unfair,” Hanif said.
Ice raids with masked agents and have become commonplace in immigrant enclaves across the country, as have protests against them. Ice protests have led to federal crackdowns in cities including Chicago, Los Angeles And Portland.
Tuesday's Chinatown raid is not the first in the New York area in recent weeks. A October 16 raid The first known raid on a migrant shelter of modern times took place in midtown Manhattan. Trump administration.
It is noteworthy that many ice raids were accompanied by documented violence. Ice has used extreme force in Chicago including throwing pepper at a priest, throwing pepper at the inside of a journalist's car, and beating a candidate for the US Congress.
There was an ice agent in New York. “relieved of duties” after throwing a woman to the ground in an immigration court building, but was reportedly back at work soon after that.
Immigrants without a criminal record is now the largest group in ice confinementand the agency detained at least 170 US citizens in 2025.
