Mamdani unloads on ICE after violent anti-ICE protesters and cops clash: ‘Cruel and inhuman’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK:  After a clash between anti-ICE protesters and the cops outside a Brooklyn hospital turned violent, the Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, slammed the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for "cruel and inhuman" behaviour on Sunday, May 3.

A protest erupted after the ICE detained a man and brought him to a Brooklyn hospital for medical evaluation on Saturday night, May 2.

A large crowd gathered after ICE agents were seen dragging the man outside Wykoff Heights Medical Centre in Bushwick.

Zohran Mamdani accuses ICE of doing nothing for public safety

Speaking to a Gothamist reporter, Mamdani said that immigration agents do nothing for public safety. “They do nothing to serve in the interest of public safety, and I’ve said that even directly to the president.”

Mamdani’s reaction came while he was out for the Five-Borough bike tour. Mamdani said that he hasn't yet seen these videos but said ICE raids are "cruel and inhumane." 

The unruly showdown erupted after the mob blocked the entry and exit doors of the hospital in protest of the detention and tried to disrupt traffic in the area by throwing debris in the street. At least nine people were arrested after the protest turned violent.

ICE says protesters damaged vehicles and assaulted officers

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reacted to reports of violent confrontation between ICE agents and the mob. The ICE revealed that the mob protesting the arrest of Chidozie Wilson Okeke had turned violent. 

As per ICE, Okeke was brought to the hospital for medical evaluation after an earlier confrontation with officers during his arrest injured him.

Taking to X, the Department of Homeland Security stated that “a significant crowd of anti-ICE agitators gathered at the hospital and became violent” during Okeke’s medical evaluation.

“The protesters damaged several ICE vehicles and assaulted ICE officers, resulting in minor injuries to the officers. Assaulting law enforcement is a felony and a crime.

“Officers from the New York Police Department responded to the scene and arrested several rioters,” the ICE concluded its X post.

New York City Councilwoman says incident violated ‘sanctuary city’ law

New York City Councilwoman Sandy Nurse accused the NYPD of coordinating with ICE agents and letting their vehicle get through the crowd. She claimed that any such operation is prohibited under NYC’s “Sanctuary City” law.

“What I witnessed during the discharge appeared to be direct coordination between ICE and the NYPD, with officers cordoning off the ambulance bay to allow ICE to move the individual into their vehicle and leave,” she said in a statement on social media on Sunday.

Pushing back against the claims of the Councilwoman, the NYPD said that its officers were called to maintain law and order at the hospital and did not cooperate with ICE in its operation.