They're the Heat on ICE

"Their suspicion grew when volunteers who were patrolling Canal Street noticed early that morning on November 29 that there were more vehicles on the road than usual. They also observed that many cars were moving toward a garage nearby. "We would be able to tell that a raid was going to happen just based on the movement around Federal Plaza, because that is ICE headquarters," says Samantha, a young organizer who declined to be identified for fear of retaliation from the federal government."

"By the time she arrived, about 50 people were blocking the garage's exit. They locked arms and chanted, "ICE out of New York!" She handed out whistles to passersby, some of whom joined in. "Once people see with their own eyes, Oh, shit it's happening here in my city, the feeling is a lot different than seeing it on their Instagram Reels or TikTok feed," she says."

In late October federal agents from ICE conducted a Canal Street immigration raid that resulted in several street vendors being detained. Organizers anticipated another raid over Thanksgiving weekend after volunteers noticed increased vehicle movement toward a nearby garage and Federal Plaza. Activists alerted one another via Signal and social media; volunteers gathered with masks, whistles and supplies. About 50 people blocked the garage exit, locked arms, chanted and handed out whistles. Protesters dragged trash cans and pallets into agents' path and stopped government vans en route to the Holland Tunnel. An elderly protester pleaded with an agent, telling him "You don't have to do this."

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