Over 80 Arrested as Anti-ICE Protest Erupts into Chaos in Lower Manhattan
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
A massive anti-ICE protest turned chaotic Tuesday evening in Lower Manhattan, leading to more than 80 arrests as demonstrators clashed with police, hurled objects, and attempted to block federal operations.
Thousands of protesters gathered near Foley Square, just steps from City Hall, to denounce ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations in New York City and across the country. The demonstration, initially peaceful, intensified as night fell, with waves of protestors spilling into downtown streets around Federal Plaza.
NYPD officers made over 80 arrests throughout the evening, with many taken into custody for disorderly conduct. Police say the number is expected to rise as the final count is completed. Officers declared a Level 3 mobilization in response to the swelling crowds and growing unrest.
Tensions flared after sunset, with demonstrators—many wearing keffiyehs associated with pro-Palestinian activism—chanting and resisting police. Video footage showed protesters throwing water bottles and other items at officers, while some shouted “Shame! Shame!” as arrests were made.
Violent clashes were reported, including incidents where protesters were pepper-sprayed during confrontations. One woman, wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh, was seen being thrown to the ground by multiple NYPD officers, her head striking barricades in the process. Another clip showed officers dragging a masked man by his backpack, also arresting his companion who tried to intervene.
Protesters also attempted to block an ICE van from exiting a Federal Plaza facility, pushing against barricades and challenging police lines. Several demonstrators shouted obscenities at officers, and one was caught on camera exhaling vape smoke directly into an officer’s face.
Earlier in the day, Foley Square was packed with demonstrators holding signs reading “Abolish ICE” and “ICE out of New York!” as they chanted slogans including “Brick by brick, wall by wall, this racist system has got to fall!”
Elected officials joined the protest, including Brooklyn Councilwoman Shahana Hanif and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who both sharply criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Hanif accused the mayor of colluding with federal immigration authorities and undermining immigrant communities.
“Mayor Adams has made it clear he does not care about working class people… he is collaborating with Trump to use tactics bringing out the military. He’s ok with ICE attacking our communities,” she told the crowd.
Williams, addressing protesters outside the federal courthouse, condemned ICE’s actions and the NYPD’s cooperation. “We’re in a scary situation and I have to call out the fact that Mayor Eric Adams is nowhere to be found in a city full of immigrants,” he said. “ICE is kidnapping people in our city, and we cannot stay silent.”
In response, Mayor Adams, flanked by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a Monday press conference, warned that violent tactics seen in Los Angeles protests would not be tolerated in New York City.
“The escalation of protests in Los Angeles over the last couple of days is unacceptable and would not be tolerated if attempted in our city,” Adams said. “We have the best police department in the world—officers trained and ready to manage unrest while preserving public safety.”
The Manhattan protest mirrored similar demonstrations that took place Tuesday in San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago, following days of escalating anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles County, now in their fifth consecutive night.
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