NEW YORK (AP) — Chaos erupted on Tuesday in Manhattan’s bustling Canal Street during an immigration enforcement operation. The scene turned volatile when a large group of outraged New Yorkers surrounded federal agents, attempting to prevent their departure, resulting in several arrests and tense confrontations in the heart of downtown.

The incident unfolded shortly after 4 p.m. as federal officers conducted a sweep in Chinatown, known for its vibrant, albeit unofficial, market of counterfeit luxury items such as handbags, watches, perfumes, and electronics.

Protesters, many seemingly commuters heading home, gathered around the masked agents, blocking their vehicle and shouting “ICE out of New York,” urging passersby to join their protest.

Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Border Patrol, and other agencies responded by attempting to disperse the crowd, sometimes using force by pushing protesters to the ground and issuing pepper spray threats before making several arrests.

As the situation intensified with more New Yorkers joining the protest, some agents retreated on foot amidst jeers and honking horns. Reinforcements arrived in a military-style vehicle, equipped with long guns and tactical gear, to manage the escalating conflict.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said the agents were conducting an enforcement operation against sellers of “counterfeit goods”

“During this law enforcement operation, rioters who were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement,” she said.

At least one person was arrested for assaulting an officer, McLaughlin said. She did not respond to a request about how many vendors were detained.

The sweep came days after a conservative influencer shared video on X showing a group of men selling bags on the street, urging the official ICE account to “check this corner out.”

While clashes between immigration authorities and protesters have played out in Los Angeles and other cities, such scenes have been rarer on New York City streets, which Mayor Eric Adams has attributed in part to his working relationship with President Donald Trump’s administration.

Trump has threatened to send federal troops to the city if Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, wins election in two weeks.

An FBI spokesperson said Tuesday that special agents were involved with immigration enforcement efforts in New York in response to a request from DHS to help with “major operations.”

Mayor Eric Adams said the city had no involvement in the sweep Tuesday and was still gathering details.

“Our administration has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue their American Dreams should not be the target of law enforcement, and resources should instead be focused on violent criminals,” he said.

In a statement, Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, accused the Trump administration of trying to create a “violent spectacle” on the city’s streets.

“This operation had nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with terrorizing immigrant families and communities,” he said.