On the afternoon of the 21st, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid in the Chinatown area of Canal Street, Manhattan. More than 50 heavily armed, masked federal agents arrested multiple men on the street, claiming the operation targeted “criminal activities involving the sale of counterfeit goods.” However, the sudden militarized action immediately triggered protests and chaos among large numbers of residents and street vendors, and sparked strong backlash in political circles.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson McLoughlin confirmed the operation was led by ICE, with the participation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), describing it as an “intelligence-driven enforcement action targeting counterfeit goods sales.” Authorities, however, declined to reveal the number of arrests or the immigration status of those arrested.
According to The New York Times and several other media outlets, the operation began around 3 p.m. local time, with multiple unmarked vehicles parked on Lispenard Street. Numerous masked agents got out and arrested several individuals. Witnesses said at least four people were handcuffed and taken away. Some street vendors shouted “ICE is here!” and scattered. Eyewitness Cummings said, “They handcuffed people without announcing their identity or following due process.” Large crowds of New Yorkers surrounded ICE agents, filming and shouting at them.
As the agents escorted those arrested to the ICE office at 26 Federal Plaza, a large number of protesters followed and gathered outside, chanting slogans and accusing the federal government of “using violence against workers and immigrants.” More agents in tactical gear later arrived, accompanied by armored vehicles. Agents pushed away protesters, resulting in chaotic scenes. As night fell, the number of protesters grew to over a hundred, confronting police.
A DHS spokesperson stated that some protesters “became violent, obstructed law enforcement, and even assaulted officers,” resulting in at least one arrest.
Canal Street has long been a hub for selling counterfeit branded handbags, sneakers, and watches, with many illegal vendors being West African immigrants. Despite multiple police crackdowns in the past, including large-scale sweeps in August 2023 and January this year, the counterfeit trade persists. Analysts note that this latest federal raid under the Trump administration is seen as a show of political toughness, but further deepens tensions between immigrant communities and federal law enforcement, once again placing New York in a dilemma between “security and human rights.”