New York Attorney General Letitia James is requesting that the public submit any video footage they have of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in New York. This request follows a recent operation in downtown Manhattan where masked federal agents arrested individuals, reportedly targeting an area known for street vendors in Chinatown. Protests erupted immediately after the arrests, with at least two released individuals claiming to be U.S. citizens.
James stated that all New Yorkers have the right to live without fear and urged anyone who witnessed or documented ICE activity to share their footage. Her office intends to review these submissions to assess any potential violations of law, emphasizing that no one should face unlawful questioning, detention, or intimidation.
The Department of Homeland Security, however, characterized James's request as an attempt to obstruct justice, warning that anyone who obstructs or assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted. This action by ICE involved over 50 federal agents and resulted in the reported arrest of nine individuals deemed to be "illegal aliens," though others were also reportedly arrested during the protests that ensued.
The arrests occurred near Canal Street, an area where similar enforcement actions have taken place targeting individuals attending scheduled immigration court hearings. The street vendors in this area have also recently been the subject of attention from right-wing influencers who have posted videos and tweets calling for ICE intervention, with one influencer specifically tagging ICE days before the operation.
Governor Kathy Hochul's administration highlighted these social media posts, suggesting a link between the influencers' calls to action and ICE's subsequent operation, q... download the app to read more
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