ICE conducted a targeted raid on Canal Street in New York City’s Chinatown, arresting dozens of street vendors as protests erupted and officials criticized the operation.
A federal raid in New York City’s Chinatown targeting criminal activity tied to the sale of counterfeit goods turned chaotic Friday as protesters clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, prompting city officials to say they had no role in the operation.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News that ICE and federal partners conducted a „targeted, intelligence-driven enforcement operation“ on Canal Street focused on criminal activity related to the sale of alleged counterfeit goods.
„During this law enforcement operation, rioters who were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties, including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement“, McLaughlin wrote in a statement. „Already, one rioter has been arrested for assault on a federal officer.“
During a news conference Tuesday night, Murad Awawdeh, vice president of advocacy at the New York Immigration Coalition, said between 15 and 40 vendors were arrested, and at least two locals were taken into custody for protesting and blocking their arrest efforts.
City officials quickly moved to distance themselves from the raid.
