‘Occupy ICE’ protest shuts down immigration hearings in NYC

Federal immigration authorities canceled a series of immigration hearings on Monday in response to an “Occupy ICE” protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in New York City.

Justice Department officials notified immigration attorneys of the cancellation on Sunday night due to the protesters’ occupation of the ICE building on Varick Street, according to a Gothamist report.

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The building serves as a processing center and temporary detention facility for immigrants arrested in New York City.

The Occupy ICE movement erupted nationwide over the weekend in response to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, which has resulted in more than 2,000 migrant children being separated from their parents.

The New York City protest is led by the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council (MACC).

About 40 people at 201 Varick right now for #occupyicenyc, and several who plan to stay over night. @macc_nyc is calling on NYers to show up en masse early tomorrow. Goal is to block ICE vans carrying immigrants to detention. “Bring bodies not tents,” says one occupier. pic.twitter.com/hmMaQzBrwF

— Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) June 25, 2018

The group told Gothamist that their objective is to block ICE agents from exiting the building or transferring immigrants to jails outside the city. An organizer said that one protester had been arrested after attempting to block an ICE van.

Many protesters celebrated the news that their occupation prompted delays in some operations at the center. Others, including at least one attorney, said that the decision was actually in the agency’s favor and may result in some immigrants being detained for weeks longer than expected.

Rachael Yong Yow, a spokesperson for ICE, told Gothamist in a statement that the protesters were “spreading misinformation and advocating violence,” and that the decision to cancel hearings was “made in order to ensure the safety of ICE employees, the court, the public and the detainees.”