NYPD arrests anti-ICE protesters occupying Trump Tower lobby in Manhattan
Police in New York City made a series of arrests on Monday afternoon when a group of anti-ICE protesters refused to leave Trump Tower in Manhattan during a demonstration inside the building. The protesters, chanting “Bring Them Back,” occupied the lobby and read out the names of illegal immigrants who were deported to the CECOT maximum security prison in El Salvador.
Video footage captured the moment when NYPD officers entered Trump Tower armed with plastic ties, ready to detain the protesters. The demonstrators, sitting in a circle, were warned to leave the building or face arrest. As officers approached them, they were informed that they were subject to arrest. The police then used plastic ties to detain two dozen protesters from the lobby, escorting them outside and placing them into police vans.
The specific charges that the protesters will face remain unclear at this time. The arrests in New York City came as anti-ICE protests were spreading across the country in response to violent protests in Los Angeles, which had entered its fourth day. The Los Angeles protests were sparked by ICE operations across the city that resulted in the arrest of about 45 individuals, including Cuong Chanh Phan, a 49-year-old illegal alien from Vietnam with a criminal history that includes a conviction for second-degree murder.
Phan had previously been convicted of shooting up a high school graduation party, resulting in the deaths of an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old, and injuring seven others. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic officials for prioritizing the protection of violent criminals over their own citizens.
The protests in Los Angeles turned violent over the weekend, with images and videos showing protesters setting vehicles on fire, throwing rocks at law enforcement officials, and taking over a highway. President Trump’s order to have the National Guard respond to the protests was met with condemnation from Democratic lawmakers.
The events in New York City and Los Angeles highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement policies and the actions taken by both protesters and law enforcement officials in response. The clashes serve as a reminder of the deep divisions within the country on issues related to immigration and border security.
