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New York, NY—Today, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), elected officials, member organizations, allies, and immigrant New Yorkers rallied and held a press conference at the federally-owned parking garage at Howard Street and Centre Street.
Yesterday, 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.
“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 public safety for all New Yorkers,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.
“Yesterday’s events highlight what many New Yorkers experience every day: federal enforcement tactics that tear families apart, criminalize community members, and sow fear — all in the name of ‘law and order.’ The recent unscheduled U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Lower Manhattan — and the arrests and detentions that followed — should alarm us all. New York is a sanctuary city. Our elected leaders and institutions must reaffirm that immigrants are not targets — they are neighbors, coworkers, and part of what makes this city vibrant and strong. We demand full transparency, accountability, and respect for human dignity. And we must ensure that any enforcement action upholds due process, protects families, and does not rely on intimidation or force. A truly just city protects the vulnerable. It does not deport them, detain them without clarity, or strip them of their rights. New Yorkers must stand together — now more than ever — to defend each other,” said Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, District 51.
“The NYPD, by law, should never collude with ICE on civil immigration enforcement. As ICE disregards our constitutional rights, it is crucial that New York City exemplify what it looks like to respect our constitutional and first amendment rights,” said NYC Council Member Sandy Nurse, District 37.
“Yesterday’s attempted ICE raid and the NYPD’s violent response to New Yorkers defending their neighbors are unacceptable. New York is a sanctuary city — our police should not be aiding ICE’s harmful tactics. The NYPD must end all collaboration with ICE. Our immigrant communities deserve safety and dignity, not fear,” said NYC Council Member Shahana Hanif, District 39.
“ICE has no place in New York — and yesterday, New Yorkers made that clear. We will not be intimidated. We will continue to record, document, and expose every unlawful action by ICE, and we will protect our community through rapid response. New Yorkers have been preparing for this moment. Although the NYPD has said that ICE is a separate entity and that they do not collaborate with them, the mistreatment of protesters yesterday showed otherwise. On Staten Island, I have witnessed firsthand how ICE tears families apart and harms our local economy. We will not stop until ICE is completely off our streets,” said Yesenia Mata, Executive Director, La Colmena.
“Yesterday New Yorkers organized and blocked what would have been an ICE raid. The NYPD’s response, to escalate tensions, violence, and make arrests, all to clear the way for ICE, runs counter to the spirit of the laws and culture of our city. The NYPD must release all New Yorkers arrested and stop facilitating ICE’s actions. New Yorkers will not back down in defense of our neighbors, our communities, and our rights, on Canal St, in Corona, or on any block in our city,” said Natalia Aristizabal, Deputy Director, Make the Road New York.
“On Saturday, November 29, New Yorkers showed up once again to defend each other. Hands Off NYC denounces both the attempted ICE raid on Canal Street on Saturday, November 29th, and the NYPD’s violent attacks on protesters who responded to defend our city from out of control federal forces. When ICE and affiliated federal agents are kidnapping our neighbors without due process, the NYPD needs to stand with New Yorkers, not with masked federal agents. Protesters exercising their first amendment rights are not a threat to New Yorkers or the NYPD; ICE and lawless federal attacks on our city are. We demand the NYPD protect New Yorkers and end collaboration with ICE. Likewise, we commit to continue building nonviolent community defense and rapid response networks borough by borough—block by block—to protect our neighbors,” said Hands Off NYC.