Anti-ICE Protesters Detained in Brooklyn Amid Arrest of Nigerian Immigrant with Criminal Record

Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood erupted in protests over the weekend following the arrest of Chidozie Wilson Okeke, an illegal immigrant from Nigeria with prior arrests for assault and drug possession, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Okeke was taken into custody during an ICE enforcement operation after allegedly refusing to comply with agents, attempting to strike them with his car, and being physically combative.

Okeke entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2023 and overstayed beyond the required departure date of February 26, 2024, DHS confirmed. During the arrest, ICE agents reported that Okeke tried to punch and elbow officers. DHS stated their officers used the minimum force necessary to complete the arrest.

Following his detention, Okeke was taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center for a medical evaluation, during which he remained non-compliant—throwing himself to the floor and screaming—before being cleared by medical staff. Video footage shows ICE agents forcibly removing Okeke from the hospital.

Outside the hospital, a crowd of anti-ICE protesters gathered, escalating tensions. DHS reported that some demonstrators damaged ICE vehicles and assaulted agents, causing minor injuries. The NYPD responded to reports of disorderly conduct, including obstruction of emergency entrances and blocking vehicle traffic.

Police issued multiple verbal warnings to disperse before arresting eight protesters on charges including resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief. One additional protester received a summons and was released.

The NYPD emphasized that it does not participate in civil immigration enforcement and had no prior knowledge of the ICE operation. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the raids as "cruel and inhumane," stating they do not enhance public safety and reaffirming his opposition directly to the president.

This incident highlights the ongoing conflict between federal immigration enforcement and local resistance in sanctuary cities like New York, where officials and activists continue to challenge ICE’s tactics and priorities.