An immigration enforcement sweep on Manhattan’s Canal Street erupted into chaos Tuesday afternoon as federal agents clashed with angry crowds, leading to arrests and tense standoffs in the heart of Chinatown.
The operation began around 4 p.m. when dozens of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, and other federal offices moved in on vendors accused of selling counterfeit goods. Witnesses saw officers detain a street vendor selling decorated smartphone cases, one of several arrests made during the sweep.
As word spread, commuters and bystanders surrounded the agents, chanting “ICE out of New York” and blocking vehicles from leaving. Some protesters attempted to physically obstruct the officers, prompting agents to shove people to the ground and threaten pepper spray. At least one person was arrested for assaulting an officer, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The confrontation escalated when additional federal agents arrived in tactical gear, some carrying long guns, and deployed a military-style vehicle to clear the streets. While some agents retreated on foot under jeers from the crowd, others made further arrests as tensions boiled over.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the operation, saying it targeted counterfeit goods and accusing protesters of turning violent and obstructing law enforcement. She declined to confirm how many vendors were detained.
The raid followed a viral video posted by a conservative influencer urging ICE to crack down on Canal Street vendors. The timing has fueled speculation about political motives, especially with New York City’s mayoral election just two weeks away. President Donald Trump has warned he could send federal troops to the city if Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins.
Mayor Eric Adams distanced his administration from the raid, stressing the city had no involvement. “Undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue their American Dreams should not be the target of law enforcement,” he said, urging resources be focused on violent crime instead.
Immigrant advocates condemned the sweep as a deliberate attempt to create a “violent spectacle.” Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, accused the Trump administration of staging the raid to intimidate immigrant communities and inflame political tensions.
The Canal Street sweep marks one of the most dramatic confrontations between federal immigration agents and New Yorkers in recent years, underscoring the volatile intersection of law enforcement, politics, and immigrant rights in the city.
Tags: Canal Street ICE raid, New York immigration sweep, Chinatown counterfeit goods, ICE protest arrests, Eric Adams Trump immigration, Zohran Mamdani mayoral race, DHS Tricia McLaughlin statement, New York Immigration Coalition, ICE raid political tensions, NYC immigrant rights protests
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