By: Jordan Baker

Tensions boiled over in Lower Manhattan on Saturday as more than 20 people were arrested during a volatile confrontation between nearly 150 protesters and law enforcement officers attempting to carry out immigration enforcement operations. The protest unfolded outside 26 Federal Plaza—the location of the U.S. Immigration Court—where demonstrators attempted to block federal agents from executing planned raids. The chaotic scene was captured on video and confirmed by police and federal sources. NY Post reported.

Wearing masks and chanting expletives,  radical left protesters hurled objects and insults at officers, yelling “motherf–kers” as they sat in the roadway and physically obstructed an unmarked white van believed to be used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The van, with tinted windows, became the central flashpoint of the confrontation, as demonstrators threw their bodies in front of it in an attempt to block its movement, NY Post reported.

The confrontation grew more intense as demonstrators dragged metal barricades, orange traffic cones, and even a drawerless dresser salvaged from a nearby dumpster into the street. Their goal: prevent ICE agents from leaving the federal building. Law enforcement officers quickly cleared the obstacles, with six uniformed Department of Homeland Security officers seen on video yelling, “Back up, back up!” while pushing protesters aside. NY Post reported.

The unmarked van was finally able to drive away after about two tense minutes, but the skirmishes continued for hours. A surge of nearly 40 NYPD and federal officers arrived on scene, clashing with demonstrators throughout the afternoon. Protesters resisted orders to disperse, with many remaining seated in the roadway to block traffic. NY Post reported.

The NYPD confirmed that officers had been dispatched in response to a 911 call about a disorderly group creating a public safety hazard outside the federal building. Those arrested were issued summonses, though some were seen being forcefully detained as tensions escalated. One video clip showed an officer pulling off a protester’s face mask, revealing his identity during the arrest. NY Post reported.

One particularly dramativ moment involved a female radical fsr left  demonstrator clad in a black mask and clear swimming goggles. She was seen sobbing hysterically and shaking her head as police placed her in custody, NY Post reported.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, praised the swift police response, denouncing the “protesters” as rioters who interfered with legitimate enforcement operations. “Secretary [Kristi] Noem’s message to rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down,” she said in a statement to The Post. “ICE will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” NY Post reported.

Similar unrest played out on the West Coast, where protests erupted in Los Angeles for the second day in a row. Demonstrators there reportedly took over the 101 Freeway and lit self-driving cars on fire. In response to the growing national unrest, ICE Acting Director Tom Homan announced that the National Guard would be mobilized to help restore order. NY Post reported.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.