Multiple individuals were arrested during a protest against possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Lower Manhattan on Saturday. The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that the demonstration took place near Centre Street in Chinatown, where protesters blocked vehicles and chanted, "ICE out of New York."

The protest began around noon and escalated as demonstrators obstructed a garage used by authorities. Video footage showed protesters preventing a van from exiting the garage. The NYPD stated that officers observed the crowd blocking the street and instructed them to disperse multiple times, but the protesters did not comply.

The NYPD confirmed that several individuals were taken into custody but did not provide specific details regarding the number of arrests or the charges. This protest followed a recent immigration enforcement action by federal agents on Canal Street, which resulted in at least nine arrests, including four U.S. citizens who were reportedly held for nearly 24 hours without federal charges.

Tensions rose during the protest as some demonstrators began throwing debris. The NYPD intervened after the situation escalated, leading to a total of 15 arrests. The New York Immigration Coalition condemned the arrests, with President and CEO Murad Awawdeh stating, "There’s a report right now that we’re following up on of an older gentleman and his daughter who were arrested who had nothing to do with anything and were just walking."

Awawdeh questioned the NYPD's role, asking, "Does the NYPD protect New York City residents or is it going to continue to harm them through collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement?"

Following the incident, sources indicated that Ricky Patel, the special agent in charge of the New York Homeland Security Field Office, contacted NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to apologize for the events. Tisch reportedly described the situation as "unacceptable" and warned that continued actions could lead to harm for both federal agents and police officers.

Protesters aimed to prevent another large-scale ICE raid, as two such operations had occurred on Canal Street in the past month. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's transition team released a statement emphasizing that these raids are "cruel and inhumane" and do not contribute to public safety. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a statement regarding the federal activity in the area on Saturday.