On October 23, 2025, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid in Manhattan’s Chinatown on Canal Street, targeting immigrants involved in selling counterfeit goods. The operation, which involved militarized vehicles and masked agents, has stirred up shock and polarized reactions within the community. Some residents support the crackdown on the long-standing issue of counterfeit goods plaguing Chinatown, while some officials are concerned about federal overreach and its potential impact on the sanctuary city spirit.
City Councilman Christopher Marte strongly condemned the raid as a “terrifying demonstration of federal power overreach,” emphasizing that ICE should not be present in New York, let alone intimidating immigrant residents in the heart of Chinatown. While acknowledging the existence of illegal street vending, Marte argued that federal agents storming into the community is not the solution and urged the city government to manage illegal vendors through local enforcement while protecting the rights of vendors and businesses.
Marte criticized Mayor Adams for collaborating with federal authorities and deploying tactical response teams alongside ICE enforcement, contending that this action violates sanctuary city laws. He asserted that the community should have safety, dignity, and accountability, rather than living in fear and under the shadow of raids.
Community members expressed varying opinions on the operation. Jacky Wong, leader of the Democratic Party’s 65th District, who has long been concerned about Chinatown issues, pointed out that residents initially feared ICE was coming to “arrest people,” particularly mixed-status families were panicked. However, it was later confirmed that the operation primarily targeted vendors selling fake handbags.
“The fake handbag issue has existed in Chinatown for over twenty years, they get caught today, and tomorrow they come out again. It’s endless. If a thorough clean-up can be done, it would actually benefit the community,” Wong added. Illegal trading of counterfeit goods has significantly damaged the commercial environment and community image, and many residents welcome the crackdown, suggesting that if the local government could handle it independently, there would be no need to rely on ICE.
Yukin Tsan, leader of the Democratic Party’s 65th District, stated that the fake handbag street vending issue on Canal Street has spiraled out of control, mostly operated by Senegalese immigrants without business licenses, hindering residents’ movements and impacting professionals’ offices and temple activities. The sources of counterfeit goods were predominantly from Yiwu, Zhejiang, China in the past, but have now extended to Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Weekend streets are packed with people, making it nearly impossible to navigate from Mott Street to Sixth Avenue. Tsan noted that while 9 people have been arrested, most vendors had fled in advance.
The raid has exposed the long-standing counterfeit goods issue and enforcement contradictions in Chinatown. There is a tug of war between “restoring order” and “protecting sanctuary,” with parties hoping to end the illicit black market activities that affect the city’s appearance, order, and economy, while also worrying about the disruption of immigrant community life.