By Adeola AdeosunShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberMultiple people were arrested Saturday after protesters in Lower Manhattan's Chinatown physically blocked federal agents from leaving a parking garage during what appeared to be a planned immigration enforcement operation, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD) and local reports.
Officers observed multiple individuals blocking the street and exits at different locations, and the individuals were also observed throwing debris, according to the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information (DCPI) in an email response to Newsweek.
"Following social media posts calling agitators to ICE's location in New York City, individuals dressed in black clothing with backpacks, face masks, and goggles showed up and began to obstruct federal law enforcement officers including by blocking the parking garage," a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Newsweek on Saturday.
Authorities told Newsweek protesters were instructed multiple times to disperse and did not comply, resulting in multiple individuals being taken into custody.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump's administration has already gone after other Democrat-run cities, citing high crime and homicide rates as the justification for bringing in Immigration and Customs (ICE) agents and, at times, the National Guard as necessary to clamp down on crime and enforce immigration law.
The focus on immigrant neighborhoods, churches, and businesses has raised concerns about civil rights and the scope of federal enforcement beyond designated border zones, especially as local and state leaders voiced opposition to the operation.
The protest also occurred as New York leaders have been preparing for an escalation in ICE activity after the mayoral election of Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and democratic socialist who has vowed to fight back against Trump's immigration crackdown.
...What To Know
Police responded at approximately 11:46 a.m. to a 911 call for a disorderly group near Centre Street and Howard Street, according to the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information in an email to Newsweek.
The confrontation began around 11 a.m. when protesters gathered outside a government building garage on Centre and Hester Streets, where agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security had been assembling, the New York Times reported. Demonstrators formed a human barricade at the garage entrance and piled garbage bags to prevent vehicles from exiting, effectively foiling the apparent raid. The protesters were seen blocking vehicles and shouting "ICE out of New York," according to video obtained by ABC News.
By the early afternoon, nearly 200 people had gathered on the street outside, chanting and yelling at the agents, who peered out from inside the garage. Just after 1:15 p.m., the confrontation erupted into chaos when agents burst from the garage in their vehicles and protesters chased them down Canal Street, hurling planters and trash cans after them, according to local reports and witnesses on the scene. At one point, a protester ran in front of one of the moving vehicles and a masked agent sprayed something at protesters from the open windows.
The parking garage, which was part of a government building, is just blocks away from the scene of a large-scale immigration raid in Lower Manhattan last month, the New York Times reported. During that raid, more than 50 federal agents swept through the area near Canal Street, arresting nine people, mostly men from West Africa, on a stretch of sidewalk long known as a marketplace for counterfeit goods.
At least nine people were arrested during that raid, according to federal officials who spoke to ABC News. Four U.S. citizens were arrested and held for nearly 24 hours without any federal charges following that incident, according to U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, who represents the area.
...What People Are Saying
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information in an email to Newsweek: "On Saturday, November 29, 2025, at approximately 1146 hours, police responded to a 911 call for a disorderly group in the vicinity of Centre Street and Howard Street, within the confines of the 5 Precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed multiple individuals who were blocking the street and exits at different locations. The individuals were also observed throwing debris. They were instructed multiple times to disperse, and they did not comply. As a result, multiple individuals were taken into custody."
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Newsweek on Saturday: “Following social media posts calling agitators to ICE’s location in New York City, individuals dressed in black clothing with backpacks, face masks, and goggles showed up and began to obstruct federal law enforcement officers including by blocking the parking garage. NYPD was called and responded to hundreds of violent rioters, which resulted in the arrest of multiple agitators.
“When individuals broadcast the location of ICE, they are putting a target on the backs of officers. Our law enforcement is facing a 1,150% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats as they make lawful arrests of criminal illegal aliens.”
“We are grateful for the NYPD officers that responded to these violent agitators and stopped the lawlessness that ensued. We will never apologize for enforcing the law and removing criminal Illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists from our communities. We won’t let violent rioters slow us down and anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition: "Hundreds of New Yorkers gathered today to stop ICE from attacking our neighbors. Instead of protecting the residents of our city, the NYPD violently confronted and arrested protesters. New York is a sanctuary city, and the NYPD has no business collaborating with ICE. The violence that occurred today could have been avoided had ICE agents not escalated tensions. But instead of holding federal agents accountable for their aggressive tactics, the NYPD instead helped facilitate ICE's campaign of terror. ICE must stop wreaking havoc across New York – separating families and harming our communities. The NYPD must immediately release the New Yorkers who they arrested, and stop all collaboration with ICE. Our police force should be using its resources to improve the public safety for all New Yorkers."
New York City Council Member Julie Menin said on X: "Today, ICE threatened the public’s safety yet again — and this time, their actions created a dangerous situation for both the public and our NYPD officers. That is utterly irresponsible."
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