Neighbors in Washington Heights are questioning the approach from masked federal agents after a man was detained and loaded into an unmarked SUV during an apparent immigration enforcement operation.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency says the person arrested was an undocumented immigrant from an African country who had a removal order since February of last year.
Video from Wednesday morning captured by a neighbor shows masked agents wearing Homeland Security Investigation gear pulling at least one man out of his car near the corner of West 157th Street and Broadway.
Witnesses say the person detained appeared to be an Uber driver and screamed as he was being loaded into an unmarked black SUV before leaving the neighborhood.
Peter Green, who recorded the footage, said the man was already being pulled out of the car when he got there, so he couldn’t know exactly what happened prior. But he says it was a jarring sight in New York City.
“I mean, this is the kind of thing that I’ve seen in other countries,” Green said. “I’ve been a journalist in war zones, and it’s the kind of thing I’ve seen in Yugoslavia during the war. It’s not what I expect to see on the streets of New York.”
Shaun Abreu, a local Democratic council member who joined neighbors who disagree with the method and execution of the arrest, says advocates are still working to gather information about the individual detained.
In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for ICE enforcement, confirmed the arrest Wednesday of an Alpha Amadou Diallo of Guinea. He allegedly entered the U.S. illegally near Del Rio, Texas. McLaughlin says Diallo received full due process and was ordered removed from the United States in February 2024.
“This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law,” McLaughlin’s statement said, in part. “When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by highly sophisticated gangs.”
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
