On October 21, 2025, the bustling streets of New York City’s Chinatown district became the backdrop for a dramatic and controversial federal raid. Dozens of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, some masked and all heavily armed, descended upon Canal Street in a show of force that included armored vehicles and a late afternoon timing—right in the heart of rush hour. According to The Contrarian, the operation instantly drew crowds of New Yorkers who gathered to protest, quickly leading to tense confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators.
The raid, which officials described as a joint operation, wasn’t just about its stated purpose—locating and arresting undocumented immigrants. The overwhelming presence of law enforcement and military-style vehicles created an atmosphere of fear and panic among residents and bystanders alike. As Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY) explained in his interview with The Contrarian’s Jen Rubin, “It was such a massive, militarized show of force, that it caused terror and fear right with around the people there, and there are many, many people. It’s a very busy street.”
Goldman, who represents New York’s 10th district and previously served as lead counsel in the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump, has become a vocal critic of what he sees as escalating aggression by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. He noted that the agency’s tactics—once largely confined to courthouse operations—are now spilling over into public spaces at the busiest times. “Now we’re starting to see ICE branch out into the streets during rush hour, at a terrible time for that kind of operation with armored vehicles,” Goldman said.
The events on Canal Street took a further turn when four U.S. citizens were arrested by Homeland Security Investigations, held for nearly 24 hours, and then released without any charges. Goldman, drawing on his experience as a federal prosecutor, questioned the legal basis for these arrests. “The fact that they were released with no charges sort of brings up far more questions than answers, which is, well, what was the basis of the arrest, or was this just because these agents were annoyed that people were peacefully protesting and tried to incite and inflame violence or tensions?” he asked, highlighting the lack of transparency and accountability in the operation.
Goldman’s concerns extend beyond New York. He pointed out that similar aggressive tactics have been observed in cities like Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles, and warned of a broader pattern. “What I believe is going on is that this is a pretext where the government is creating and escalating violence in order to then say, ‘oh, there’s violence on the streets of New York, we need to send in the military.’ And so, they are creating a problem that then they’re gonna say, oh, we have to solve with the military. And it is all a ruse, it is all pretextual, and I think it’s really important to call it out right now, before it happens,” Goldman said.
His warnings echo those voiced on the opposite coast just two days later. On October 23, 2025, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie (D) issued a public condemnation after reports surfaced of a federal deployment to his city. In a nine-minute video statement from San Francisco City Hall, Lurie accused the federal government of using “aggressive enforcement tactics that instill fear, so people don’t feel safe going about their daily lives.” Lurie was unequivocal: “These tactics are designed to incite backlash, chaos and violence, which are then used as an excuse to deploy military personnel.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that over 100 Customs and Border Protection agents were expected to arrive at the U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda, California, on October 23. The move, while not officially confirmed as a shift in policy, was described by Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin as a “stepped-up presence” in sanctuary cities like San Francisco. “We do have ICE officers on the ground in San Francisco,” McLaughlin said on NewsNation’s The Hill. “That’s not a change in posture.” But the timing and the scale of the deployment left many local officials wary.
California’s Democratic leadership responded swiftly. Governor Gavin Newsom pledged to “push back forcefully” against any federal troop deployment, and Attorney General Rob Bonta vowed to challenge the move in court within hours, if not minutes, should troops arrive. The tension between federal and local authorities was palpable, with McLaughlin suggesting that Newsom “electorally has to be very careful” given public dissatisfaction over issues like wildfires and crime in California’s major cities.
Back in New York, Goldman has tried to use what levers of power remain. He wrote to the NYPD commissioner, urging local officers to be prepared to intervene if ICE acts unlawfully or uses excessive force, especially when detaining U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. “If, for example, ICE is arresting U.S. citizens, or lawful permanent residents, that’s outside the scope of their authority. They are not permitted to do that. So they are just like any other citizen or any other individual in that city, subject to state laws,” Goldman explained. He emphasized the role of local law enforcement in protecting residents—even against federal agents, if necessary.
Yet, Goldman lamented the lack of oversight and accountability at the federal level. He blamed Republican lawmakers for failing to check the administration’s power, saying, “The House Republicans, the Senate Republicans, who are in the majority and control those bodies, have abdicated their role in ensuring that the administration is following the law. Plain and simple. They’re just completely rolled over and allowing the administration to do whatever it wants.” He also noted the elimination of the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security, which would ordinarily serve as a check on agency conduct.
Goldman’s critique wasn’t limited to ICE’s tactics. He also called out what he described as “brazen corruption” by former President Donald Trump, citing Trump’s demand for $230 million from the Department of Justice, the use of private money for unauthorized renovations to the White House East Wing, and the pardon of the Binance CEO after a business connection with Trump’s family. “That is a quid pro quo. Someone gives the president and his family money. The president gives him a pardon. That is illegal,” Goldman asserted, while acknowledging that Trump enjoys immunity due to a Supreme Court ruling.
Despite these fiery exchanges, the future of federal-local cooperation on immigration enforcement remains uncertain. With both coasts seeing stepped-up federal activity, and local leaders vowing legal and political resistance, the country appears headed for more confrontations over the limits of federal power, the rights of local residents, and the accountability of law enforcement agencies.
As the dust settles from these high-profile raids and deployments, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on how cities like New York and San Francisco will respond—and whether the balance between safety, civil rights, and federal authority can be restored.
