QUEENS — Residents and immigration advocates in Queens rallied Monday evening to protest what they described as an uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity across New York City, a wave of enforcement that critics say has targeted immigrant communities and heightened fear in neighborhoods long accustomed to immigration-related tension.
Community alarm over street operations
Speakers at the rally said masked agents in body armor have been conducting arrests in public places — including near courts, schools, hospitals and homes — in recent months. Those operations, they say, have spread beyond isolated court arrests at Federal Plaza into street-level actions across boroughs.
"The immigration system in this country is broken; no one disputes that. People come to this country illegally; no one disputes that, either. Do not tell us, however, there is no better way to enforce the immigration laws of this country than to have masked agents in body armor taking people, including children, during raids at immigration courts, schools, hospitals, neighborhoods and homes."
Advocates pointed to neighborhoods across the city that they say have seen recent ICE activity: Inwood in Manhattan; Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in Queens; and Bushwick in Brooklyn. Many residents who spoke at the gathering described an atmosphere of unease and disruption, with some reporting arrests over paperwork errors and administrative matters rather than criminal conduct.
State and city officials move to shore up legal support
On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a joint effort to expand the capacity of immigrant advocates and provide legal representation for children detained by ICE in New York. The initiative includes a $7.25 million allocation aimed at making sure every child detained in the state has access to legal counsel.
Officials framed the funding as a means to give detained children a better chance of release and to ensure their cases are handled properly through immigration courts. The Hochul administration has also been working to reduce cooperation between state and federal immigration enforcement, part of an ongoing effort to limit the reach of ICE operations in New York.
| What was announced | Purpose |
|---|---|
| $7.25 million allocation | Ensure legal representation for every child detained by ICE in New York |
Advocates seek legal and policy avenues
Immigrant-rights groups at the rally urged local and state leaders to pursue every available legal and policy option to curb what they called overly aggressive federal enforcement. They emphasized that legal counsel can be decisive in immigration proceedings, particularly for minors unfamiliar with the court system and without family or community supports.
- Where enforcement has been reported: Inwood, Corona, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Bushwick and other neighborhoods.
- State response: Funding for representation for detained children and efforts to reduce local cooperation with ICE.
- Advocacy goals: Greater protections for families, legal due process and limits on street-level arrests.
Legal observers note that while the state can allocate funds for legal services and restrict certain types of cooperation with federal immigration authorities, its power to directly stop ICE operations is limited. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and the mechanisms available to states typically involve litigation, policy restrictions on information-sharing, and expansion of legal and social services for affected communities.
Local impact and next steps
For families in neighborhoods where ICE activity has been reported, the immediate concerns are practical: knowing where to get legal help, ensuring children are represented at hearings, and understanding how municipal and state protections apply. The new funding is intended to expand existing legal networks that provide counsel and to support community groups that assist with outreach and documentation.
Advocates said they will push for transparency about the scope and targets of ICE operations and for continued investment in legal aid. City and state officials framed the announcement as an interim step while exploring other measures to safeguard immigrant communities.
The developments will likely draw continued attention from immigrant communities, legal aid providers and elected officials as New Yorkers weigh how best to respond to federal enforcement activity while protecting due process and family stability.
Camille Rousseau is a state correspondent at WE NEWS covering immigration and community issues across New York City.
