New York, NY—Today, several people were arrested amidst a protest outside the entrance of a parking garage in Lower Manhattan, where dozens of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had appeared to be gathering for an immigration raid nearby. The protest led to scuffles with the NYPD officers. Police officers are barred from colluding with ICE in New York City, due to sanctuary protections, yet they continue to provide “crowd management” assistance to federal agents – which led to increased tensions with protesters.
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.”