Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Lower Manhattan, New York on Tuesday evening to protest against intensified deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as coordinated actions unfolded across the country in solidarity with protests in Los Angeles.

by Ada Zhang

NEW YORK, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Lower Manhattan, New York on Tuesday evening to protest against intensified deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as coordinated actions unfolded across the country in solidarity with protests in Los Angeles.

The rally, organized by a coalition of unions and immigration groups, was held at Foley Square near the Federal Plaza Immigration Court, the city's main immigration court.

Protesters held bright yellow signs reading "Stop the Deportation Now" and "ICE out of NYC." Marching through nearby streets, many wore masks and chanted slogans such as "ICE out of schools, ICE out of New York," calling for an end to immigration raids and expressing opposition to the deployment of federal troops in Los Angeles.

"We're seeing ICE invade our communities, spending enormous resources to target immigrants," said David Chung, organizing director at the People's Forum. "People are ready to take a stand -- not only against ICE, but also against the Trump administration's policies that threaten immigrants and working-class communities."

Demonstrators also called for the withdrawal of the National Guard troops and Marines from Los Angeles, where large-scale protests continued on Tuesday amid increased federal enforcement actions.

Grace Campbell, a student at Hunter College, emphasized the broader impact of immigration policies. "It's extremely important to defend immigrants. The repression in LA right now -- the military repression of a protest -- shows that these mass deportations and other measures of the Trump regime are an attack on all of our rights," she said, adding that many students around her were directly affected by the ICE policies.

Kathy Rojas, a public school teacher and member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said her students have expressed fear of being detained. "I've seen students' eyes get watery, thinking they're going to be sent to the same 'icebox' they were sent to when they entered this country. My students fear they're going to come home and their parents won't be there," she said.

Another teacher, Yari Michel, carrying a sign reading "Education not Deportation," said educators have a responsibility to speak out. "I think all of us know people who are directly impacted, especially if you're an education worker. You have a high concern for your students, and it's really our job to protect and defend our students," she said.

Matt Malone, a PhD student and teacher, said recent federal actions are unprecedented. "It's horrible that Trump is doing this really unprecedented thing -- calling the National Guard without the approval of the state," he said. "New York has always been a home to immigrants. Immigrants run this city, and they have the strongest voices here. I want to keep it that way."

New York City Police arrested dozens of protesters during the evening rally on the streets around a block of federal buildings near Foley Square. Besides ordinary police officers, the Police Department also maintained a heavy presence of Strategic Response Group, a division of rapid reaction force in the city.

A day earlier, the police detained about 24 protesters at Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan during a sit-in against ICE operations, according to multiple media reports.

Similar protests were held Tuesday in cities across the United States, as activists, students and educators were mobilized to oppose intensified immigration enforcement and express support for demonstrators in California.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday said he did not foresee a deployment of the National Guard to the city as it was in Los Angeles.

"If there's ever a need to go beyond the manpower that we have, there are other ways you do it before you have to come with the look of a military operation. So I don't foresee that," Adams said.