Hundreds of pro-immigration activists brought a key New York enforcement facility to a standstill on Thursday, in a dramatic escalation of protests against what they decry as a brutal new wave of deportation raids.
Demonstrators, chanting "abolish ICE" and "let them stay," formed human chains and blockaded entrances to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Federal Plaza. The action was a direct response to the agency's recently launched "Operation Secure the Streets," which has targeted undocumented immigrants with convictions.
Confrontation and Mass Arrests
The scene descended into tense confrontations as NYPD officers, donning riot gear, moved in to clear the pathways. Video footage captured by onlookers shows police meticulously detaining protesters who had linked arms and refused to disperse. According to law enforcement sources, the arrests were largely peaceful, though at least one individual was reportedly treated for minor injuries.
Protest organisers from the group 'Resist the Raids' declared the action a necessary act of civil disobedience. "We will not stand by while our neighbours are torn from their families and homes," a spokesperson stated from the scene. "ICE's operations are sowing terror in our communities, and we are here to say 'not in our city'."
The Policy Sparking Outrage
The flashpoint for the demonstration is Homeland Security Secretary Liz Whitley's controversial new directive. The policy has drawn fierce criticism for broadening the scope of immigration enforcement, targeting individuals based on old convictions and prioritising them for immediate removal, often without judicial review.
Protesters and civil liberties unions argue the policy is inhumane and tears apart families, unfairly punishing people who have already served their time. The Biden administration has so far defended the operation, stating it focuses on public safety by removing those with serious criminal histories.
The New York showdown signals a potentially volatile new chapter in the national debate over immigration, with activists vowing to continue their disruptive protests until the policy is revoked.
