In a federal raid in New York City’s Chinatown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nine migrants from West Africa. The individuals, who are from Senegal, Mali, and Guinea, were detained for allegedly selling counterfeit items in the area. During the operation, four protesters were also arrested for blocking ICE officers and throwing objects at them.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the raid as a ‘target, intelligence-driven enforcement operation’ focused on criminal activity related to the sale of counterfeit goods. She stated that the protesters, who were detained for obstructing law enforcement, had criminal backgrounds, with one already arrested for assault on a federal officer.
During a news conference Tuesday night, Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition reported that between 15 and 40 vendors were arrested, with at least two locals detained for protesting and blocking their arrest efforts. City officials quickly distanced themselves from the raid, with Mayor Eric Adams’ press secretary emphasizing that New York City does not cooperate with federal law enforcement on civil deportation matters.
Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani criticized the Manhattan raid on social media, calling it ‘aggressive and reckless.’ He accused the Trump administration of using ‘authoritarian theatrics’ to create fear, not safety, and urged an end to such actions. The incident has sparked significant debate over immigration enforcement strategies and the role of local versus federal authorities in addressing migrant and criminal activity.