Zohran Mamdani condemns ICE and investigates NYPD after Brooklyn protest clashes
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 4
Zohran Mamdani condemns ICE and investigates NYPD after Brooklyn protest clashes
7 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 4
The mayor said eight protesters were arrested after about 200 people gathered outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick when ICE removed Nigerian detainee Chidozie Wilson Okeke from the hospital.
Mamdani said NYPD had no prior coordination with ICE and was responding to 911 calls, but a video showing an officer throwing a person to the floor was under active investigation.
The confrontation has intensified scrutiny of whether police actions complied with New York sanctuary laws, as local officials and immigrant advocates call for clearer rules, accountability and dropped charges.
When does police crowd control cross the line into assisting federal immigration enforcement?
Are new federal policies turning hospitals from safe havens into sites of immigration enforcement?
April 2026 Bushwick ICE Raid at Wyckoff Heights: Arrest, Protest Violence, and Sanctuary City Controversy
Overview
In late April 2026, ICE arrested Chidozie Wilson Okeke for overstaying his visa, leading to his transport to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center for medical evaluation. This sparked a large protest outside the hospital, during which protesters damaged ICE vehicles and assaulted agents, prompting NYPD intervention and arrests. Allegations of coordination between ICE and NYPD were denied by Mayor Mamdani, who condemned the raid as cruel and reinforced sanctuary city policies, including barring ICE from city facilities without a warrant. Advocacy groups condemned the raid and demanded reforms, while federal officials defended the enforcement. The incident intensified debates on immigration enforcement, community safety, and policy responses, with ongoing investigations and strengthened local protections amid concerns of potential federal escalation.