ICE Conducts Raids On NYC’s Canal Street
A federal raid in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood Tuesday led to the arrests of four protesters and nine migrants from West Africa who were in the U.S. illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. And, the head of the federal ICE agency is warning New Yorkers to expect more of these types of crackdowns as President Trump expands his mass deportation push to NYC.
More than 50 federal agents swept through the busy Canal Street area where African vendors illegally sell bootleg goods like sunglasses and purses.
Military-style trucks were escorted by armed federal agents in the area.
It’s one of the most high-profile federal immigration raids New York City has seen since President Trump took office. The city has drawn less federal attention than Chicago or Los Angeles in Trump’s second term. The Department of Homeland Security claimed afterward that “NEW YORK’S CANAL STREET IS SAFER,” and posted an image of the arrested migrants’ faces in gems.
NEW YORKERS REACT
Reports of the raid spread quickly on social media, drawing dozens of protesters trying to block federal vehicles and shouting at ICE agents to leave NYC. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said the agents were carrying out an enforcement operation against sellers of “counterfeit goods” when protesters “were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement.”
The New York Police Department said it was not involved.
Mayor Eric Adams said while the city does assist with the deportation of criminals, it “does not cooperate with federal law enforcement on civil deportations.”
More to come? “You will see an increase in ICE arrests,” Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in an interview on Fox News. “There are so many criminal illegal aliens that have been released in New York specifically.”
Mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani (D) called the raid “aggressive and reckless,” accusing the Trump administration of choosing “authoritarian theatrics that create fear, not safety.” Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (I) called the raid “an abuse of federal power” and said that they were “more about fear than justice, more about politics than safety.”
Bigger picture: New York’s “sanctuary city” policies restrict cooperation with the federal government on immigration enforcement. Back in March, Adams — who has aligned himself with some of Trump’s immigration stances — testified that fears of deportation and ICE raids would lead residents to avoid seeking treatment for medical emergencies or calling law enforcement when a crime occurs.
MIGRANT TOLL: During the Biden administration, Adams said the migrant surge “will destroy New York City,” noting that, under local law, he is required to provide housing and services for migrants. Officials estimated migrants could cost the city $12 billion over three years.
About a quarter of a million migrants came to NYC between 2022-24 under a historical wave of migration from the US-Mexico border under President Biden.
What we’ll be watching: Tonight is the second New York City mayoral debate, where Mamdani, Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa (R) will likely face questions about federal immigration raids in the city. It’s at 7 pm ET and you can watch here.