The operation resulted in the arrest of one man, according to local outlet WXXI.
Federal immigration agents were forced to retreat from a worksite raid in upstate New York on Tuesday morning after a large crowd of demonstrators gathered outside and denounced the operation.
The incident unfolded in Rochester, where immigration enforcement officers targeted roofing workers at a rental property. According to WXXI, around 100 protesters quickly assembled, filling the street and loudly condemning the agents. Many chanted “shame” and “Gestapo,” while others shouted angrily and gestured at the officers. The pressure from the crowd ultimately forced the agents, some of whom wore masks, to pull back and leave the scene.
As they departed, protesters clapped and jeered, with some making obscene gestures toward the officers. One vehicle belonging to U.S. Customs and Border Protection was left with four slashed tires, though it remains unclear who damaged it. Demonstrators cheered when the disabled SUV was finally driven away.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, noted the significance of the act, pointing out that slashing government vehicles could carry serious legal consequences. “Which is why it’s pretty incredible that we are seeing that level of willingness to engage in pretty serious behavior in opposition to immigration enforcement,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Despite the protests, one man working on the roof was taken into custody. Local roofing contractor Clayton Baker, who identified the detained worker as one of his employees, expressed outrage over the arrest. Baker stressed that the man had proper legal documentation and described him as “inhumane” to target.
“He’s a family guy, and he’s got a baby on the way. He’s never even had a speeding ticket that I know of. He goes to church every Sunday, and he pays his taxes,” Baker told WXXI, condemning the operation.
None of the other workers on the roof were detained, remaining in place throughout the raid.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the action was actually carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Some locals said they felt compelled to step in and defend the workers. Ruth Reeves, who joined the protest, explained her motivation to WHAM. “They’re here putting on a roof, trying to make a dollar and paying taxes on that dollar, and ICE was here bothering them, so I came to bother ICE,” Reeves said.
The raid comes amid a broader immigration crackdown by the White House. Earlier this year, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against Rochester over its “sanctuary city” policies. In response, the city council voted to reaffirm its commitment to those protections.
