Hundreds of protesters marched from Foley Square to 26 Federal Plaza on Tuesday night, demanding an end to deportations and federal immigration enforcement in New York City. The demonstration, known as the “ICE OUT of NYC” protest, came less than 24 hours after a controversial ICE raid on Canal Street, where agents detained at least 14 people, including several street vendors and four U.S. citizens.
The Canal Street operation, described by federal officials as a crackdown on counterfeit goods, quickly drew outrage from immigrant-rights advocates and city officials. Witnesses reported heavily armed officers detaining people indiscriminately and creating panic throughout Chinatown. New York Attorney General Letitia James condemned the raid and urged residents to document and report any further ICE activity.
By Wednesday evening, Foley Square had filled with demonstrators carrying signs that read “ICE OUT OF NYC NOW,” “STOP THE DEPORTATIONS,” and “HANDS OFF NYC.” A large yellow banner at the front of the march declared, “ICE OUT OF NEW YORK – STOP THE DEPORTATIONS NOW!” while another, in English and Hebrew, read “JEWS AGAINST DEPORTATION.” The crowd chanted in English and Spanish — “ICE FUERA AHORA!” — as they moved through Lower Manhattan surrounded by police barricades and city lights.
Among those leading chants was activist @jaywwalker, holding a “HANDS OFF NYC” sign and calling out ICE’s recent actions as “a violation of human rights.”
The protest highlighted New Yorkers’ growing frustration over federal immigration tactics in a city that has long declared itself a sanctuary for immigrants. Many participants framed the demonstration as part of a broader struggle for social and economic justice, linking immigrant rights to labor rights, democracy, and healthcare access.
