Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided the open air, counterfeit goods market that has been thriving on Canal Street in Manhattan. The market, which has a long history, has recently seen African immigrants laying goods out on blankets on sidewalks. Merchandise is typically either counterfeit designer goods or stolen merchandise.

Nine illegal immigrants were arrested, all of whom had lengthy rap sheets, including for forgery, possession of drugs, drug trafficking, robbery and assault. Some 15-40 illegal street vendors were arrested. 

Violent protesters arrived on the scene in an attempt to stop the law enforcement operation. Those protesters included local politicians Jumaane Williams, Brad Lander, and Tiffany Caban, as though they knew this was happening and were on hand.

“During this law enforcement operation, rioters who were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties, including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement,” Asst. DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Already, one rioter has been arrested for assault on a federal officer.”

ICE was looking specifically for illegal immigrants who may have been engaged in this criminal activity and federal agents detained several people. The Canal Street market, while a novelty for tourists seeking cheap trinkets and fake luxury items, is a scourge on the neighborhood and a thorn in the side of luxury retail companies and manufacturers.

GOP mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa’s campaign was the only one of many New York politicians who came out against the criminal activity on Canal Street, saying “Organized counterfeit rings are hurting law-abiding merchants while NYPD enforcement has been sidelined’ federal agents doing their jobs must not be attacked, and those crimes must be prosecuted.”

Candidate for New York City mayor and former Governor Andrew Cuomo said that federal immigration enforcement would not be permissible when he is mayor. “This is not who we are, and it will never be NYC when I am mayor,” he said. “The Statue of Liberty stands in our harbor, not as a decoration, but as a declaration of our values and the promise of America. 

“Today’s ICE raid in Chinatown was an abuse of federal power by the Trump administration: more about fear than justice, more about politics than safety. New York was built by immigrants and we will not be bullied into betraying who we are.”

Cuomo was in agreement with his opponent, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, who said that the move to rid the street of criminal retail operations was “authoritarian.” 

“Federal agents from ICE and HSI—some in military fatigues and masks—descended on Chinatown today in an aggressive and reckless raid on immigrant street vendors,” Mamdani said. “Once again, the Trump administration chooses authoritarian theatrics that create fear, not safety. It must stop.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the federal operation, indicating that the criminals peddling counterfeit or stolen goods are simply out there pursuing the American Dream. “Our administration has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue their American Dreams should not be the target of law enforcement, and resources should instead be focused on violent criminals,” he said.

Governor Kathy Hochul was also opposed to it, saying that Donald Trump “claims he’s targeting the ‘worst of the worst.’ Today his agents used batons and pepper spray on street vendors and bystanders on Canal Street. You don’t make New York safer by attacking New Yorkers.”

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams also took issue with the raid, making it a racial issue, saying “We saw people who were armed and in tactical gear for vendors, which was planned. Many of you actually got advance notice that this was going to happen. They were targeting, in this case, Black vendors on Canal Street. That’s what occurred… None of this is about public safety. It is about fear and chaos.”