Thousands Protest ICE in New York Against Trump Deportation

Published: 31 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in New York City on Friday to protest the Trump administration’s escalating mass deportation policies, demanding accountability and reform from federal immigration authorities. Braving freezing temperatures, young and older citizens chanted slogans against ICE, the Ku Klux Klan, and fascism, calling for the abolition of the immigration enforcement agency altogether.

The demonstration formed part of a nationwide day of action advocating “no work, no school, no shopping” to highlight opposition to aggressive immigration crackdowns. Marchers gathered at Foley Square for speeches before proceeding north through Manhattan’s ice-covered streets, holding signs, chanting in English and Spanish, and urging public attention to government practices they deemed unjust.

Brad Lander, a congressional candidate and former New York City comptroller, participated in the protest after spending several days in Minneapolis, where federal agents recently killed Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, aged 37. “People in Minneapolis are heartbroken – and they are enraged,” Lander said, emphasizing the community’s response to the deaths caused by immigration agents.

Students led much of the protest energy, chanting and blocking streets. John Eddy, from Las Vegas, said he skipped school to join the demonstration. “We’re students – we took the full day off of school. We are out here,” he said. His friend Abdou Seye, visiting from Minneapolis, added, “If it’s them today, it’s us tomorrow, so we have to keep going.”

Julia Parris from Brooklyn, who had previously protested during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, described her anger at the federal administration. “I am disgusted. There are no strong enough words to describe how I feel about this administration. We are fed up,” she said as she marched with thousands through city streets.

Demonstrators waved signs, blocked traffic, and received supportive honks from drivers. One man even climbed atop his car, blasting music and waving to participants, showing solidarity with the nationwide movement. Organizers said the protests are designed to pressure federal authorities, urging work stoppages and economic actions as a form of civic resistance against ICE operations.

The anti-ICE demonstrations follow nearly month-long federal actions in Minneapolis that sparked national outrage after the killings of Good and Pretti. Other victims include Keith Porter in Los Angeles and Silverio Villegas González in Illinois, highlighting a broader concern over federal immigration enforcement tactics. Student leaders from the University of Minnesota coordinated much of Friday’s actions, aiming to replicate local protest success on a national scale.

Organizers stressed that economic pressure, including work stoppages, boycotts, and public marches, is crucial to demand accountability from the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Demonstrators called for ICE agents to leave Minneapolis and for reforms to prevent further civilian deaths, highlighting the protests’ national significance.

The New York City protest exemplifies rising youth-led activism in the United States, combining coordinated strikes, marches, and public advocacy to challenge federal policy. Organizers emphasized that widespread civic engagement and visible dissent are necessary to confront systemic abuses and protect vulnerable communities.