Federal brokers carried out a joint Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown in New York Metropolis’s Chinatown neighborhood on Tuesday, in accordance with a regulation enforcement official.
A big regulation enforcement presence was seen on Canal Road, a outstanding hub for procuring in Decrease Manhattan.
Federal brokers are seen in New York Metropolis’s Chinatown neighborhood, Oct. 21, 2025.
WABC
ABC’s New York station WABC reported that distributors packed up their tables and tried to flee the world, which is understood for retailers promoting designer knockoffs.
ICE and federal companions from a number of businesses “carried out a focused, intelligence-driven enforcement operation” that was “targeted on prison exercise referring to promoting counterfeit items,” Assistant Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Tricia McLaughlin mentioned in a press release.
McLaughlin mentioned particulars on these arrested might be launched as soon as obtainable.
Following the ICE operation, protesters had been seen gathering within the space. McLaughlin mentioned one “rioter” was arrested for assault on a federal officer.
“Throughout this regulation enforcement operation, rioters who had been shouting obscenities, turned violent and obstructed regulation enforcement duties, together with blocking automobiles and assaulting regulation enforcement,” she mentioned.
In response to protests, senior administration officers from Metropolis Corridor went to the scene to observe the continued scenario.
“We’ve got realized concerning the federal regulation enforcement motion on Canal Road in Manhattan this afternoon and are gathering extra particulars. We by no means cooperate with federal regulation enforcement on civil deportation issues, in accordance with native legal guidelines, and don’t have any involvement on this matter,” a spokesperson for Metropolis Corridor mentioned in a press release to ABC Information.
“Mayor Adams has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers making an attempt to pursue the American Dream shouldn’t be the goal of regulation enforcement, and assets ought to as an alternative be targeted on violent criminals,” the assertion added.

Federal brokers are seen in New York Metropolis’s Chinatown neighborhood, Oct. 21, 2025.
WABC
A supply accustomed to the scenario informed ABC Information, if circumstances escalate and a person assaults or interferes with a authorized regulation enforcement motion, Mayor Eric Adams has instructed the New York Metropolis Police Division to intervene.
Earlier on Tuesday, the NYPD mentioned on X that it had “no involvement within the federal operation that passed off on Canal Road this afternoon.”
It is a growing story. Please test again for updates.