URGENT UPDATE: Two NYPD officers were injured during a chaotic immigration enforcement action in Washington Heights early Wednesday morning, October 25, 2023. The confrontation unfolded as federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed multiple arrests, prompting residents to call 911 about armed men forcibly removing individuals from vehicles.
The incident escalated around 9:00 AM near 164th Street and Broadway when NYPD officers, responding to reports of a disturbance, spotted a group pursuing a suspect. Upon arrival, they realized the pursuers were actually federal immigration agents, who were reportedly wearing vests identifying them as ICE agents but concealed under their sweatshirts.
Authorities confirmed that the two NYPD officers sustained minor injuries during this interaction and received treatment on the scene from EMS personnel. Details regarding the nature of their injuries remain undisclosed, and a spokesperson for ICE has yet to respond to inquiries about the incident.
Local City Councilmember Shaun Abreu, who represents the Washington Heights area, described the enforcement actions as “deeply disturbing.” He shared a video on social media capturing what he claimed was a separate ICE operation occurring simultaneously at 157th Street and Broadway. The footage showed agents forcibly pulling a man from a car, raising alarms in the community.
Witness Peter Green, who recorded the video, stated that NYPD officers arrived at least a minute after the federal agents had left with the individual. Abreu condemned the federal actions, stating, “I condemn this despicable pattern of intimidation. ICE and other federal agencies carrying out Trump’s agenda of detaining people without due process have no place in our city.”
This incident highlights growing tensions between local police and federal immigration enforcement in New York City, raising urgent concerns among residents about safety and civil rights. As the situation unfolds, residents and officials alike are calling for accountability and clarity regarding these aggressive immigration tactics.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
