As per reports, a federal law enforcement operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies occurred on Tuesday (21 October) in lower Manhattan. The operation targeted illegal street vendors along Canal Street and involved the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), IRS Criminal Investigation, and Border Patrol. The enforcement action began in the mid-afternoon, around 1400 hours local time (1800 hours UTC) and extended into Tribeca and the Financial District.

During the operation, nine undocumented immigrants were arrested, some of whom reportedly had extensive criminal records. Four individuals were arrested for assaulting officers, and one was detained for obstructing law enforcement by blocking a driveway.

• The operation also involved armored vehicles, armed officers, and helicopter support, which caused temporary paralysis of traffic across several city blocks.
• Protesters gathered around Canal Street, confronting federal agents and attempting to block vehicles. Demonstrators shouted slogans including “ICE out of New York” and “fascists.” Some protesters were physically restrained and arrested during the confrontations.
• Witnesses reported officers using force, racial profiling, and coercive tactics on street vendors, generating community backlash and criticism from local officials.
• Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams condemned the operation, emphasizing the city’s stance against civil deportations and highlighting tensions between federal authorities and local communities.