On May 28, 2025, 23 anti-deportation activists were arrested outside a Manhattan courthouse after attempting to block ICE vans transporting detainees.
The NYPD said the protesters ignored repeated orders to clear the roadway and were disrupting traffic.
Pepper spray was used, and some demonstrators were restrained with zip ties. Eighteen received court summonses, while five face criminal charges, including obstruction of government administration.
Protesters, including a Queens pastor, opposed ICE’s practice of arresting undocumented migrants at court hearings. The Trump administration defends courthouse arrests, citing legal authority if credible information supports them.
Past actions include charging judges for allegedly aiding migrants in avoiding ICE.
