New York State Attorney General Letitia James, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, called on residents to share photos, videos, and other documentation of federal immigration operations with her office, following a high-profile immigration raid targeting street vendors in Manhattan’s Canal Street.
James said her office would review all submitted materials through a newly launched “Federal Action Reporting Form,” emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in federal enforcement actions.
“Every New Yorker has the right to live without fear or intimidation,” she said in a statement.
The move comes amid President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, more than 100 federal agents are being deployed to intensify enforcement efforts, citing an unnamed administration source.
Footage shared by protesters in several cities shows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting aggressive operations that critics claim involve racial profiling and the detention of immigrants without criminal records. The Canal Street raid, in particular, sparked public outrage as residents accused federal agents of using excessive force against local street vendors.
Asked about James’ initiative, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the oversight effort, saying it “looks like obstruction of justice.”
The attorney general’s monitoring plan aligns with Democratic efforts to counter Trump’s immigration policies. Earlier this week, U.S. Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat from Los Angeles, announced plans to launch a public website tracking ICE activities and encouraged Americans to record and report immigration enforcement operations.
In March, the Trump administration disbanded DHS offices responsible for investigating civil rights abuses, a move critics say weakened internal oversight.
James’ latest initiative could further heighten tensions between her office and the White House. A longtime critic of Trump, James previously filed a civil fraud lawsuit against him in 2022. Her action comes amid reports that she herself faces a federal mortgage-related charge, which Democrats claim is politically motivated.
According to DHS, Tuesday’s Canal Street operation resulted in nine arrests of individuals from Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and Guinea, several of whom reportedly had prior criminal arrests. In addition, four individuals were detained for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers, while one person was charged with obstruction of justice.
Democratic Representative Dan Goldman, whose district covers Canal Street, said his office intervened to secure the release of four U.S. citizens who were wrongfully detained during the raid.
“Dozens of masked federal agents stormed Lower Manhattan, roughing up protestors and indiscriminately arresting people,” Goldman said in a statement.
The raid reportedly followed viral posts by pro-Trump influencers highlighting African street vendors in the area. One influencer, Savanah Hernandez, claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that undocumented African immigrants were running an illegal market, and called on ICE to intervene.
“I don’t know that ICE officials saw my post,” Hernandez told reporters via email. “However, the White House has been very responsive to on-the-ground reporters who have utilized X to share their stories.”
By Wednesday, witnesses reported that Canal Street, usually teeming with street vendors, appeared largely deserted, reflecting the lingering tension following the federal raid.
