What began as planned enforcement action by federal agents on Canal Street in Lower Manhattan erupted into chaos Tuesday afternoon as crowds yelled at Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The Department of Homeland Security said the federal raid was focused on cracking down on the sale of counterfeit goods and involved agents from ICE, the FBI and the ATF.
It’s unclear how many vendors were detained, but DHS said at least one protester was arrested for allegedly assaulting a federal officer.
“ICE and its federal partners, including FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI and CBP conducted a targeted, intelligence-driven enforcement operation on Canal Street in New York City, focused on criminal activity relating to selling counterfeit goods,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “During this law enforcement operation, rioters who were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties, including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement. Already one rioter has been arrested for assault on a federal officer. We have more details of the criminals arrested as soon they become available.”
In a startling move, military-style trucks used by DHS investigations drove through Lower Manhattan escorted by armed federal agents. Chopper 2 flew over the scene.
CBS News New York
The NYPD said they had no involvement and this was an ICE enforcement operation.
Protesters made their way to 26 Federal Plaza, where those detained were taken. The demonstration was peaceful but passionate, a stark contrast to the tense confrontation earlier in the day.
“The manner in which ICE is going into areas and just wreaking havoc, causing unsafe communities – it’s very obvious that this isn’t making anyone safer,” one protester said.
“Immigrants are an inherent part of the country. They are not the problem in this country,” another protester said.
Street Vendor Project calls federal enforcement shameful
Witnesses told CBS News New York vendors were plucked from multiple locations along Canal Street, including Lafayette, Broadway and Church Street. Fellow vendors said it was terrifying to watch ICE agents jump out of their trucks and head right towards them.
“They’ve been grabbing people that been coming here, trying to support their family,” said Elton Barrett, who works nearby.
Director of the Street Vendor Project, Mohamed Attia, said vendors already face enforcement from several city agencies and it’s difficult for them to get licenses, making them more vulnerable.
He called Tuesday’s federal enforcement shameful.
“They were racially profiling vendors just based on their skin color, based on how they look, based on what language they speak,” Attia said. “And it’s really horrifying that this is happening in New York City, a city of immigrants.”
The Street Vendor Project said they will be doing outreach to make sure vendors understand their rights.
Tuesday night, Canal Street was free of the street vendors who normally line the sidewalks.
“Every time I get off the train, it’s flooded with people selling bags, vendors. Today? Nobody. I didn’t even realize what was going on,” Barrett said.
Eyal Adri also works nearby, and he said while he understands people need to make a living, there are too many vendors.
“Sometimes there’ll be so many of them and so much stuff on the sidewalk that it’s hard to live around here, hard to work around here,” he said.
New York City officials react
Local leaders and immigration advocates condemned the agents’ actions.
“There is no excuse for sending military-style vehicles and a national law enforcement response for street vendors,” City Comptroller Brad Lander said.
“None of this is about public safety. It is about fear and chaos,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said.
“Ordinary New Yorkers on their way home or coming home stood up and said, what you are doing is shameful. And ICE’s response to that was escalation and violence,” said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition.
A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams said his administration was “gathering more details.”
“We never cooperate with federal law enforcement on civil deportation matters, in accordance with local laws, and have no involvement in this matter. [Mayor Adams] has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue the American Dream should not be the target of law enforcement, and resources should instead be focused on violent criminals,” press secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus wrote on social media.
“Today’s raid on Canal Street was a horrifying display of federal overreach. ICE has no place in New York City, especially not in the heart of Chinatown, terrorizing our immigrant neighbors with military vehicles and masked agents. This kind of escalation is unnecessary, unacceptable, and antithetical to our city’s values as a sanctuary for all people,” City Councilmember Christopher Marte said. “The challenges around vending on Canal Street are real and must be addressed, but federal agents storming our streets and targeting community members is not the solution.”
Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani also reacted to the operation.
“Federal agents from ICE and HSI — some in military fatigues and masks — descended on Chinatown today in an aggressive and reckless raid on immigrant street vendors,” Mamdani wrote on social media. “Once again, the Trump administration chooses authoritarian theatrics that create fear, not safety. It must stop.”
In a post on X, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “[President Trump] claims he’s targeting the ‘worst of the worst.’ Today his agents used batons and pepper spray on street vendors and bystanders on Canal Street. You don’t make New York safer by attacking New Yorkers.”
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