Feds’ dawn raid in Jackson Heights draws scrutiny from locals

Armed federal agents were seen in Jackson Heights Queens on Thursday morning, where they reportedly made at least one arrest. Screenshot from video obtained by the Eagle

By Ryan Schwach

Heavily armed federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security were spotted in Jackson Heights on Thursday morning, and reportedly detained a woman who recently moved into the neighborhood before being berated by locals.

According to several videos and local officials, federal agents, some unidentified but many wearing uniforms from Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s principal investigative arm, arrived at 34th Avenue and 88th Street with weapons and a helicopter.

Videos of the raid obtained by the Eagle showed a woman with red hair and a grey shirt handcuffed by law enforcement. The woman’s spouse was also reportedly detained. The Eagle was unable to confirm the second arrest before presstime. THE CITY reported that the officers had obtained a search warrant, which authorized them to search and seize any electronic device in the raid.

While it is currently unclear who was detained or for what reason, a law enforcement source told the Eagle that no one has been charged with a criminal complaint in connection with the Thursday operation.

The Department of Homeland Security redirected questions to the Eastern District Court of New York, but did not explain why. EDNY declined to comment.

Locals told the Eagle the agents arrived in the helicopter and in several unmarked vehicles in the heart of the Jackson Heights just before 6:30 a.m.

Many locals in the diverse neighborhood known for its foreign-born population have long worried about seeing federal law enforcement in the community, and feel like their fears came true Thursday morning.

“This is the first time we've seen something like this in Jackson Heights, on this level,” said one neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.

“The helicopter was the biggest takeaway, because most of us woke up to this noise, and it was very, very loud, because it was right here,” they said. “Guys walking around with guns. It was just really insane to see that here.”

Videos obtained by the Eagle and also posted by State Senator Jessica Ramos showed agents with HSI logos on their uniforms carrying assault weapons. A video posted by a neighbor shows them confronting agents, asking them if they were ICE and why they were there in Jackson Heights.

“None of your business,” one agent responded. “You aren’t involved.”

Another video posted by Chuck Park, a Jackson Heights resident who is challenging Rep Grace Meng for her seat in Congress, showed unmarked law enforcement cars on the Jackson Heights intersection being yelled at by a chorus of Queens residents in English and in Spanish.

“Get the f– out of here,” one local yelled.

“Don’t f–ing come back,” yelled another.

Park, who was sent the video by a neighbor, previously served as chief of staff for local Councilmember Shekar Krishnan.

“I'm pissed that they would show up in our community,” he told the Eagle. “My second response is incredible pride at how many people showed up at six in the morning and just yelled in the faces of ICE agents on the street.”

“I think this is what it's going to take to resist these abductions on our streets and our neighborhoods,” he added.

Ramos said the incident was particularly concerning to her.

“I think a big concern was the time of day when a lot of people are off to work in school,” she told the Eagle. “The most jarring factor is certainly the size of the guns that they were carrying. We wouldn't believe that any one of our neighbors would pose such a threat that would require such heavy guns.”

Queens residents shouted at the federal agents in Jackson Heights as they drove away in unmarked vehicles.  Screenshot from video obtained by the Eagle

She added that the community has long been worried about this sort of incident occurring.

“We're a community that has already suffered the loss of children at our schools because they've been deported or self deported, or they're simply absent from school because parents are scared,” she said. “The fear is that this could happen to anyone.”

This is not the first time federal agents have carried out the Trump administration's heavy-handed enforcement in Queens.

In November, THE CITY reported that federal agents burst into a Jackson Heights family’s home and pointed guns at a mother and her children.

Agents entered the apartment, and dragged the mother by her hair and pointed an assault rifle at her 13-year-old daughter.

“Put your f–ing hands up, stupid,” one agent could be heard yelling after busting down the door.

“I have my baby, I have my kids. What the f–k!” the mother yelled back, referring to her 2-year-old who she was holding at the time. “Don’t touch me.”

THE CITY reported that the agents questioned the family about a cousin’s whereabouts for about an hour and then left without making any arrests.