Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Manhattan after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided New York's Chinatown district on Tuesday, detaining several vendors and bystanders.

According to local reports, heavily armed federal agents stormed an area known for selling counterfeit handbags, jewelry, and accessories. Witnesses said armored vehicles were deployed, and masked officers detained multiple people during the operation.

The Department of Homeland Security said the raid, conducted jointly with the FBI and U.S. Border Patrol, was part of a broader effort to combat the sale of fake goods linked to organized smuggling networks.

Hours later, protesters assembled outside the federal immigration building at Foley Square, chanting“ICE out of New York” and“No fascism in America,” condemning what they described as an“intimidating and violent display.”

Murad Awawdeh, deputy director of the New York Immigration Coalition, told reporters that between 15 and 40 vendors were detained, calling the operation“an affront to democracy.”

The New York Police Department said its officers did not participate directly in the raid but confirmed several protesters were arrested after clashing with federal agents.

Mayor Eric Adams reiterated that New York City does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement on civil deportations, emphasizing that“undocumented migrants should not be treated like criminals.”

Local politicians, including Zoran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, criticized the raid as“performative and politically motivated,” accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing federal power for intimidation.

The raid in Chinatown mirrors similar ICE operations in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland in recent months, which have drawn public outrage and renewed debate over federal immigration policy.

Human rights advocates warned that such aggressive tactics could further marginalize immigrant communities already facing economic hardship and fear of deportation, calling for transparency and accountability from U.S. authorities.

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