Anti-ICE protesters say there is a war on the streets and in the parking lots of Manhattan, not one of violence but of transparency.
Demonstrators gathered outside of Pier 40 just before 1 p.m., holding signs and chanting, “Hey neighbors, ICE parks here!” According to dozens of locals, Hudson River Park Trust, which operates parking at Pier 40 and the surrounding athletic field, had a contract with the feds that allowed ICE vehicles to park in the garage, which it ultimately used as a staging area. However, following outrage from nearby residents, the contract reportedly expired.
Despite this, on Tuesday, July 7, some four ICE vehicles were reportedly spotted parking in the lot, including a car that was used in Corona, Queens, to take a person into custody last December. Protesters believe that ICE agents are actively attempting to make these detainments out of sight in order to prevent mass protests.
“They’re going out of their way to be discreet. They’re parking here, and they’re doing their abductions in what people sometimes refer to as the outer boroughs, and they’re being very stealthy. They learned on Canal Street. That New Yorkers will respond if they know, if they see. So, I am here to make sure people in my neighborhood and all of New York City knows and sees ICE is here,” local Eve Silber said. “The surge is on. There are violent abductions everywhere happening in New York City right now, don’t look away. You may have to look very closely to see them, but we’re going to help you do that.”
Protesters with groups like Rise and Resist and Hands Off NYC charge that they are peaceful and are not attempting to incite any kind of violence, but instead shine a light on what they feel to be Homeland Security attempting to lie to the public.
Those participating in the rally, which ran the gamut from young adults to seniors, shared that they are distressed about the level of brutality that ICE has become known for, including attacks on protesters outside of New Jersey’s Delaney Hall and the recent shooting death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
“Look around, see who’s using this park. Families, New Yorkers have a right to use this park without being afraid of masked thugs grabbing them and kidnapping them, or using this area, this wealthy neighborhood, as a staging ground for abductions in more vulnerable New York neighborhoods,” Julie DeLaurier said. “Maybe Mamdani doesn’t have the ability to kick ICE out of our city altogether, but he certainly has the ability to require ICE to follow our city laws.”
The efforts of New Yorkers pushing back against ICE have raged well over a year now, ever since 26 Federal Plaza’s Immigration Court became the hub of President Trump’s war on undocumented immigrants in the Big Apple. This was followed by large-scale protests against ICE agents who attempted to take state along Canal Street on two separate occasions in 2025. Since then, ICE has primarily conducted snatch-and-grab arrests. ICE was last spotted taking a man into custody in Corona, Queens, on July 10. Despite a law that requires agents to be unmasked, ICE agents were seen wearing masks while taking a man into custody.
“I am out here today because ICE has no place in our communities. They don’t belong in our parking garages. They don’t belong in our streets, and they certainly have no right to be armed gunmen kidnapping our neighbors,” Christian Moliere said. “We are a multicultural, multi-generational community here in New York City. And honestly, if you think about it, a lot of these people probably don’t realize that ICE is parked here. So we’re drawing attention to the fact that ICE is parked here, and they have no place, and it’s time to get them out.”
amNewYork reached out to Hudson River Park Trust for comment and is awaiting a response.
