By Victoria Albert

Nine immigrants were arrested in New York City on Tuesday, in one of the highest-profile federal interventions in the city since President Trump took office.

The arrests in the city's Chinatown neighborhood were part of an operation targeting criminal activity related to the selling of counterfeit goods, the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday. It centered on Canal Street, a busy thoroughfare in lower Manhattan often packed with sidewalk vendors selling counterfeit designer products.

The immigrants, from countries including Mali, Senegal and Guinea, were all in the country illegally, and many had previous arrests, according to the department.

"NEW YORK'S CANAL STREET IS SAFER," the department said on social media.

New York City has largely been spared from the high-profile immigration raids that have taken place in Chicago and Los Angeles in recent months. The Trump administration has warned, however, that New York City and several other Democratic-led cities could be the next targets in the president's crackdown on illegal immigration.

The Canal Street operation drew widespread public attention. Photos appeared to show agents on the street being trailed by a large, armored SWAT vehicle. Video showed demonstrators chanting "Shame," and agents attempting to clear streets crowded with protesters so vehicles could move through.

Nicole Waknine, an attorney who works on nearby Lafayette Street, said she saw protesters clashing with federal agents and blocking their vehicles as agents attempted to move down the street.

"It was an extremely chaotic and frankly a frightening experience, because there was a lot of pushing, a lot of shoving," Waknine said. "I'm happy it didn't escalate, but, you know, for a few minutes there it looked like it might."

The department said four additional people were arrested for assaulting law enforcement, and one other was arrested for obstruction.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the operation was based on intelligence and to expect more ICE arrests in cities including New York. "You will see an increase in ICE arrests because there are so many criminal illegal aliens that have been released in New York specifically, " Lyons said in an interview on Fox News.

The operation drew quick criticism from local leaders, including Mayor Eric Adams, who emphasized that the immigration action was conducted without the help of New York Police Department officers, in accordance with local laws. "Mayor Adams has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue the American Dream should not be the target of law enforcement, and resources should instead be focused on violent criminals," said spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak Altus.

Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani called the raid aggressive and reckless. "Once again, the Trump administration chooses authoritarian theatrics that create fear, not safety," he said in a social-media post. "It must stop."

His opponent, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, said the raid was an abuse of federal power that was more about fear than justice. "The Statue of Liberty stands in our harbor, not as a decoration, but as a declaration of our values and the promise of America," he said on social media.

It isn't clear why the administration chose this moment to target Canal Street. A recent social-media video from conservative commentator Savanah Hernandez documented the Canal Street vendors selling counterfeit goods. Hernandez tagged Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement asking for their assistance.

"There were at least 20-30 illegals in the area conducting business that they know is against the law, however, this seems to be a common occurrence on this street and business is booming," she said in a post last week. "Perhaps @ICEgov should go check this corner out."

Homeland Security didn't respond to a request for comment on whether Hernandez's posts influenced the operation.

Waknine, the attorney, said Canal Street was empty Wednesday morning.

"I've worked in this area for 11 years now, and I've never seen it look like that," she said.

Write to Victoria Albert at victoria.albert@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 22, 2025 14:33 ET (18:33 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.