Confrontation Erupts Over Suspected Immigration Operation
Multiple protesters were taken into custody in Lower Manhattan on Saturday following a heated confrontation outside a government parking garage where demonstrators had gathered to protest potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. The incident occurred near Chinatown at the intersection of Centre and Hester Streets, according to official statements from the New York Police Department.
The situation began unfolding around 11 am when dozens of federal agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security appeared to be gathering for what witnesses believed was an impending immigration raid in the vicinity. Protesters quickly mobilized, forming physical barriers at the garage entrance and piling bags of rubbish to block access.
Escalating Tensions and Police Response
As the morning progressed, the crowd swelled to nearly 200 demonstrators who chanted "ICE out of New York" while directing their shouts at federal agents observing from inside the facility. The protest intensified when participants began blocking vehicles and at one point prevented a van from exiting the garage.
NYPD officers arrived on scene to separate the groups and installed metal barricades in an attempt to maintain order. However, tensions reached a critical point shortly after 1:15 pm when federal vehicles attempted to leave the facility. Protesters pursued the vehicles down Canal Street, with some individuals throwing planters and rubbish bins toward the convoy.
According to reports from The New York Times, a masked federal agent was observed spraying an unknown substance from a vehicle window during the chaotic scenes. NYPD officers continued clashing with protesters in the streets as the federal convoy managed to drive away from the area.
Arrests and Official Statements
The NYPD confirmed that officers had issued multiple dispersal orders to protesters who were blocking the street. When demonstrators failed to comply with these directives, law enforcement moved forward with arrests. While authorities acknowledged that "multiple" individuals were taken into custody, they did not immediately specify the exact number of arrests or detail the charges that would be filed.
In an official statement, the NYPD clarified: "Officers observed multiple people blocking the street and were told multiple times to disperse but they did not comply." The Department of Homeland Security remained silent on the matter, declining to respond to media inquiries about whether an immigration operation had actually been planned for that day.
This recent clash comes exactly one month after a significant federal enforcement action in the same neighborhood resulted in nine arrests. According to information provided by Congressman Dan Goldman to ABC News, four U.S. citizens detained during that previous operation were held for nearly 24 hours without facing federal charges.
The renewed protest activity reflects growing concerns among New York officials and community members about potential intensification of immigration enforcement under the current presidential administration. Many fear that similar raids could become more frequent, prompting continued vigilance and organized resistance within affected communities.
