Protesters form human barricade to block ICE agents in Manhattan garage near Canal Street
🚨 NOW: ICE agents have been trapped in an NYC parking garage for OVER AN HOUR now, as anti-ICE “protestors” block the exit
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 29, 2025
WHY IS THIS BEING ALLOWED?
Rioters should NOT be able to obstruct operations
USE FORCE, remove them, and arrest them ALL! pic.twitter.com/a0p4uvXZDV
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A tense standoff took place in Lower Manhattan as protesters blocked a group of ICE agents at a Centre Street parking garage on Saturday, November 29.
The situation unfolded during an operation reportedly linked to the ongoing counterfeit trade on Canal Street.
The confrontation drew public attention quickly and highlighted growing tensions surrounding federal enforcement activities in the area.
Canal Street standoff involving ICE agents
According to reports, between 20 and 25 ICE agents were blocked inside the garage after protesters formed a human barricade at the entrance.
This occurred just after 4 pm when ICE was expected to move toward Canal Street, which has long been associated with counterfeit designer goods.
Videos circulated online showing activists chanting “ICE out of New York” and warning vendors to flee before the agents arrived.
Far-left activists in NYC are physically blocking ICE agents from making arrests while chanting “ICE out of New York!”.
— 🇺🇸 Ryan 🇺🇸 (@Ryan_In_Mi) November 29, 2025
Obstructing federal officers is a crime.
Crack down on these thugs.
Send them to jail.
pic.twitter.com/LBdEMRT3D9
Witnesses described how activists reacted rapidly once word spread that an enforcement action was imminent.
Some vendors quickly abandoned their stalls, while others closed down early. Passersby and local residents noticed the sudden shift in the area and described the atmosphere as “charged” and “unusually organised.”
NYPD units arrived within minutes as tensions escalated. To control the situation, officers deployed metal barricades and activated a sound-projection device to push demonstrators away from the garage doors.
Police officials stated that the initial response was intended to prevent further escalation in the densely populated commercial area.
Eventually, NYPD officers created a pathway so that federal vehicles could leave the garage. As the agents exited, shouts and minor scuffles occurred when the crowd attempted to move forward.
No ICE operation ultimately took place after the delay, and no arrests were confirmed by Saturday evening.
ICE's arrest of Abdou Tall
The standoff followed a week of heightened attention on ICE activity in the area. On November 22, agents arrested Abdou Tall, a Senegalese vendor accused of trademark counterfeiting.
He had allegedly fled for several blocks before being apprehended.
A statement from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that Tall had previously been arrested twice by the NYPD in October for similar offenses.
However, he was released each time before ICE could lodge or act on a detainer. McLaughlin stated that the November arrest “could have been avoided entirely” if Tall had been turned over to ICE when initially requested.
Operations targeting counterfeit merchandise are common on Canal Street, but the close timing of NYPD vendor enforcement and ICE’s separate crackdown drew more community pushback.
Some vendors accused federal authorities of selective and disruptive policing. DHS responded by pointing to sanctuary city policies in New York, stating that such policies create gaps that allow repeat offenders to stay on the streets.
By nightfall, Canal Street returned to normal traffic. Vendors and residents indicated they expected additional operations in the coming weeks.
Federal officials have not yet stated whether the delayed raid will be rescheduled.
