A tense evening unfolded in New York City as dozens were arrested following a protest that erupted within the lobby of a Tribeca hotel. The Hilton Garden Inn on Sixth Avenue became the focal point of intense demonstration, disrupting pedestrian flow and drawing a significant police response around 6 p.m.
The protest’s origins lay in claims, circulated by the activist group Sunrise Movement, alleging the hotel was providing lodging for ICE officials. Social media quickly filled with videos depicting protesters passionately chanting and displaying signs, steadfastly refusing to vacate the hotel lobby.
The air crackled with defiant slogans, including “No ICE, No KKK, No Fascist USA” and “ICE out of New York.” The demonstration took a particularly pointed turn when protesters directly targeted a high-ranking official, chanting, “Kristi Noem will hang,” a direct reference to the Department of Homeland Security secretary.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office issued a statement acknowledging the protest, with a spokesperson praising the demonstrators’ exercise of their right to protest. The statement went further, labeling ICE as a “rogue agency” responsible for “cruel, inhumane, and lawless” actions.
An NYPD bus departed the scene around 8:20 p.m., carrying those arrested, as remaining protesters voiced their support with chants of “We love you, we will get justice for you.” Officers maintained a visible presence outside the hotel as the crowd gradually dispersed.
The exact number of arrests and the specific charges remain unconfirmed by the NYPD. This demonstration arrives on the heels of escalating tensions surrounding ICE activity and recent fatal encounters with federal agents.
The shooting of Alex Pretti during an encounter with U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis over the weekend ignited further outrage. This followed the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good during an encounter with ICE officers in the same city, adding fuel to the growing unrest.
Just days prior, similar protests unfolded in Minnesota, where police arrested multiple anti-ICE demonstrators outside a SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Maple Grove. Protesters there believed U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was staying at the hotel, prompting the unlawful assembly declaration and subsequent arrests.
These events represent a surge in direct action against ICE, fueled by concerns over its policies and tactics, and underscored by recent tragedies that have left communities reeling and demanding accountability.
