A protest outside a Brooklyn hospital descended into chaos on Saturday night after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a Nigerian national accused of using his vehicle as a weapon against federal officers. Chidozie Wilson Okeke, 32, was taken into custody and later transported to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick for a medical evaluation, sparking a confrontation that escalated into angry scenes and multiple arrests.
Arrest and hospital standoff
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Okeke had overstayed a tourist visa and had prior arrests for assault and criminal drug possession. During his arrest, he allegedly refused to comply with officers' commands, used his vehicle to attempt to strike ICE agents, and became physically combative, trying to punch and elbow officers. After the confrontation, Okeke requested medical attention, prompting agents to take him to the hospital.
Word quickly spread that ICE agents were at the facility, drawing a crowd of up to 200 protesters who blocked exits and threw trash cans into the street. Video footage shows federal agents emerging with Okeke in handcuffs, pulling him down steps toward an ambulance bay as officers formed a barrier against shouting demonstrators. At one point, Okeke fell to the ground before agents lifted him and forced him into a waiting vehicle.
Protest turns violent
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said it responded to 911 calls around 10:39 p.m. reporting a disorderly group near Stanhope Street and Wyckoff Avenue. Officers found protesters blocking traffic, obstructing the ambulance bay, and refusing to disperse. Eight people were arrested on charges including resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and criminal mischief. One individual also received a summons. Authorities said several ICE vehicles were damaged, and officers suffered minor injuries.
Brooklyn City Councilmember Sandy Nurse, who was at the scene from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., disputed the NYPD's claim that it did not coordinate with ICE. She stated on social media: "What I witnessed during the discharge appeared to be direct coordination between ICE and the NYPD, with officers cordoning off the ambulance bay to allow ICE to move the individual into their vehicles and leave."
Political reactions
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called ICE's presence "deeply disturbing" and thanked residents who mobilized, saying, "ICE is not welcome in Brooklyn." Democratic New York State Senator Julia Salazar noted an apparent increase in ICE activity in Bushwick, raising concerns among locals. Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his opposition to ICE operations, stating, "ICE raids are cruel and inhumane. They do nothing to serve in the interest of public safety."
The protest continued into the early morning hours, with streets closed and tensions high until the crowd eventually dispersed. The incident has reignited debates over immigration enforcement and local cooperation with federal authorities in New York City.
