60 Anti-ICE Protesters Arrested – Stormed WRONG Hotel!

At least 40 protesters landed in handcuffs after occupying a Manhattan hotel lobby for hours, chanting against federal immigration agents they claimed were staying inside—though authorities never confirmed a single ICE agent was actually there.

Story Snapshot

Protesters stormed the Hilton Garden Inn in Tribeca on January 28, 2026, staging a sit-in over alleged ICE presence
NYPD issued dispersal orders for 45 minutes before arresting at least 40 demonstrators who refused to leave
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised protesters while labeling ICE a “rogue agency” conducting “lawless raids”
No confirmation ever emerged that ICE agents were actually staying at the hotel during the protest
The action was part of coordinated nationwide protests targeting hotels believed to house immigration enforcement officials

When Activism Meets Trespassing at a Tribeca Hotel

The scene unfolded Tuesday evening when demonstrators affiliated with the Sunrise Movement flooded the Hilton Garden Inn lobby on Sixth Avenue. They arrived around 6 p.m., spreading throughout the space and spilling onto the sidewalk outside. The crowd swelled to hundreds, chanting “No ICE, No KKK, No Fascist USA” and “ICE out of New York” while holding signs demanding an end to federal immigration enforcement. The Sunrise Movement had posted social media claims that the hotel housed ICE officials, turning the property into a pressure point for immigration policy grievances.

The 45-Minute Standoff Before Arrests

NYPD officers arrived and began issuing dispersal orders, repeating the warnings for 45 minutes as protesters held their ground. The demonstration created operational chaos for hotel management and guests, transforming a commercial property into contested territory. By 8:20 p.m., police buses transported arrested demonstrators away from the scene, with reports indicating at least 40 people faced charges. The NYPD declined to immediately specify the exact charges, though trespassing seems the most obvious legal issue when protesters refuse to leave private property after repeated warnings from both property managers and law enforcement.

A Mayor Who Sides With Protesters Over Federal Law Enforcement

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s response deserves scrutiny. His office released a statement commending the protesters for exercising their right to protest, which sounds reasonable until you read the rest. Mamdani characterized ICE as “a rogue agency that has repeatedly carried out cruel, inhumane, and lawless raids, arrests, shootings, and even targeted American citizens.” That’s a municipal official openly attacking a federal agency charged with enforcing immigration law. The statement praised NYPD for handling the “peaceful protest,” though occupying private property and refusing lawful dispersal orders stretches the definition of peaceful considerably.

The Fatal Shootings That Fueled the Outrage

The protest timing connected to two recent deaths during immigration enforcement encounters. Alex Pretti died in a confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis over the weekend before the NYC action. Earlier in January, Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot during an encounter with ICE officers. Activists positioned the hotel occupation as accountability theater, demanding answers about these shootings. The day before the NYC protest, demonstrators in Maple Grove, Minnesota, targeted a SpringHill Suites by Marriott where they believed U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was staying, resulting in multiple arrests there as well.

The Hotel Industry Caught Between Politics and Business

The hospitality sector faces mounting pressure over ICE accommodations. Earlier in January 2026, Hilton removed a Minneapolis franchise from its system for refusing to house ICE agents, establishing a precedent that hotels can face consequences from both sides. Provide rooms to federal law enforcement, and activists may occupy your lobby. Refuse federal agents, and corporate headquarters may terminate your franchise. The Tribeca incident raises questions about whether private businesses should bear the burden of political battles over immigration enforcement policy, particularly when protesters target properties based on unconfirmed social media claims.

Nationwide Coordination Reveals Organized Strategy

The NYC action wasn’t isolated. Protests erupted simultaneously in Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston, demonstrating coordination across multiple cities. This nationwide approach suggests organized infrastructure behind the movement, not spontaneous outrage. Activist groups are identifying hotels allegedly housing immigration officials, mobilizing crowds, and executing occupation tactics that force confrontations with local police. The strategy creates media spectacles that keep immigration enforcement under scrutiny while putting municipal governments in awkward positions between federal law enforcement partners and activist constituencies demanding sanctuary policies.

The fundamental question remains unanswered: were ICE agents actually staying at the Hilton Garden Inn that evening? Authorities never confirmed the presence of federal immigration personnel at the property. That absence of verification matters because it means 40 people got arrested, hotel operations were disrupted for hours, and significant police resources were deployed based on social media claims that may have been entirely wrong. Effective protest requires accurate intelligence, and if activists are occupying hotels based on speculation rather than facts, they’re not advancing their cause—they’re just trespassing. The right to protest doesn’t include the right to commandeer private property indefinitely, regardless of how passionately you disagree with federal immigration policy.