NEW YORK (AP) — A planned immigration enforcement operation on Manhattan’s well-known Canal Street erupted into chaos on Tuesday. The scene turned tumultuous as numerous New Yorkers gathered, opposing the federal agents and attempting to prevent them from leaving, which led to several arrests and tense confrontations along this vibrant downtown area.
The disturbance unfolded shortly after 4 p.m. when federal agents dispersed throughout a segment of Chinatown, a long-standing, albeit unofficial, marketplace for counterfeit luxury items such as designer handbags, watches, perfumes, and electronics.
Among the arrests made was a street vendor hawking sparkling smartphone cases, observed by an Associated Press reporter witnessing the sweep in action.
In reaction to the enforcement, a wave of protesters—many appearing to be commuters heading home—encircled the masked officers. They attempted to obstruct their vehicles while vociferously chanting “ICE out of New York” and encouraging passersby to join their ranks.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, along with Border Patrol and other federal entities, endeavored to disperse the crowd. In the ensuing scuffle, officers shoved some protesters to the ground and wielded pepper spray as a threat before making further detentions.
As the situation intensified and more locals joined the protest, some federal agents opted to retreat on foot, trailed by a crowd of jeering protesters and blaring car horns. The scene escalated further with the arrival of additional federal agents, equipped with long guns and tactical gear, driving a military-style tactical vehicle.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said the agents were conducting an enforcement operation against sellers of “counterfeit goods”
“During this law enforcement operation, rioters who were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement,” she said.
At least one person was arrested for assaulting an officer, McLaughlin said. She did not respond to a request about how many vendors were detained.
The sweep came days after a conservative influencer shared video on X showing a group of men selling bags on the street, urging the official ICE account to “check this corner out.”
While clashes between immigration authorities and protesters have played out in Los Angeles and other cities, such scenes have been rarer on New York City streets, which Mayor Eric Adams has attributed in part to his working relationship with President Donald Trump’s administration.
Trump has threatened to send federal troops to the city if Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, wins election in two weeks.
An FBI spokesperson said Tuesday that special agents were involved with immigration enforcement efforts in New York in response to a request from DHS to help with “major operations.”
Mayor Eric Adams said the city had no involvement in the sweep Tuesday and was still gathering details.
“Our administration has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue their American Dreams should not be the target of law enforcement, and resources should instead be focused on violent criminals,” he said.
In a statement, Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, accused the Trump administration of trying to create a “violent spectacle” on the city’s streets.
“This operation had nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with terrorizing immigrant families and communities,” he said.
