Hundreds of protesters gathered in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday evening to denounce intensified immigration raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), joining a nationwide wave of demonstrations sparked by growing concerns over federal immigration enforcement.
Organized by a coalition of labor unions, immigrant rights groups, and community organizations, the rally took place at Foley Square, near the Federal Plaza Immigration Court, the heart of New York City’s immigration judiciary. Protesters held banners reading “Stop the Deportation Now” and “ICE out of NYC,” and marched through the streets chanting slogans such as “ICE out of schools, ICE out of New York.”
The protest mirrored ongoing demonstrations in Los Angeles, where federal authorities have deployed National Guard troops amid rising tensions over mass deportation efforts. In solidarity, protesters in New York called for an immediate end to ICE raids and opposed the militarization of immigration enforcement.
“We’re seeing ICE invade our communities, spending enormous resources to target immigrants,” said David Chung of the People’s Forum. “People are ready to stand against the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda.”
Educators and students were prominent at the rally, many voicing fears about how immigration policies are affecting school communities. “I’ve seen students cry, terrified they’ll come home and find their parents gone,” said Kathy Rojas, a public school teacher and activist. Another educator, Yari Michel, held a sign that read “Education not Deportation,” emphasizing teachers’ role in defending immigrant students.
Dozens of demonstrators were arrested by the New York Police Department, including members of its Strategic Response Group, which maintained a visible and forceful presence. This followed arrests the previous day, when 24 people were detained during a sit-in at Trump Tower protesting ICE operations.
Mayor Eric Adams commented on the situation Tuesday, saying he does not anticipate the deployment of National Guard troops in New York City. “There are other ways to manage public safety without the look of a military operation,” he said.
Protests also erupted in several other U.S. cities, as activists, educators, and students nationwide mobilized to push back against increased deportations and to show solidarity with demonstrators in California.
The protests come amid growing fears that federal immigration policies are escalating beyond enforcement into repression, leaving immigrant families and communities in a state of fear and uncertainty.
Written By Rodney Mbua
