CHINATOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Officials say nine people were arrested when federal agents descended on Canal Street to target illegal street vendors , sparking chaos and protests.

On Wednesday, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told Fox News that New York City will see an "increase in ICE arrests" because there are "so many criminal illegal" immigrants.

"You will see us making those criminal arrests to make New York safe again. It's definitely intelligence driven, it's not random," Lyons said. "We aren't pulling people off the street. There was a specific reason based on criminal intelligence and criminal activity that we showed up on Canal Street,"

On Canal Street Wednesday morning, there was an unusual sense of peace and tranquility on what is usually a hub of illegal commerce.

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