Federal immigration authorities arrested nine illegal migrants from West Africa during a raid in New York City’s Chinatown on Tuesday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Officials said the migrants, from Senegal, Mali, and Guinea, were taken into custody for allegedly selling counterfeit goods on Canal Street. Four protesters were also arrested after allegedly blocking ICE vehicles and throwing objects at officers.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the operation was part of a “targeted, intelligence-driven enforcement action” focused on organized criminal activity tied to counterfeit merchandise.
“During this law enforcement operation, rioters who were shouting obscenities became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties, including blocking vehicles and assaulting officers,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “Already, one rioter has been arrested for assault on a federal officer.”
ICE said that the protesters taken into custody have prior criminal histories.
During a press briefing Tuesday night, Murad Awawdeh, vice president of advocacy for the New York Immigration Coalition, claimed that between 15 and 40 vendors were detained and criticized the operation.
City officials said New York was not involved in the raid. Kayla Mamelak Altus, press secretary for Mayor Eric Adams, said the city “never cooperates with federal law enforcement on civil deportation matters” under local law. “Undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue the American Dream should not be the target of law enforcement,” she said.
The DHS operation drew criticism from local activists, including state assemblyman and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who described the enforcement action as “aggressive and reckless.” Federal officials, however, say such operations are part of renewed efforts to target illegal activity involving migrants who entered the country unlawfully.
The arrests follow a series of coordinated DHS operations across multiple states aimed at identifying and removing individuals involved in criminal conduct after illegally entering the United States.
