A protest outside a Brooklyn hospital spiraled into chaos on Saturday night after ICE agents arrested a Nigerian national who was accused of 'weaponizing' his vehicle in order to strike federal agents.
Chidozie Wilson Okeke was dragged outside the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick in a conflict that suddenly exploded into angry scenes after hours of escalating tension.
The flashpoint came just as Okeke had been brought to the facility for a medical evaluation.
Word quickly spread prompting clashes with demonstrators and multiple arrests as he was taken inside by agents.
Police said the number of protesters swelled and grew disorderly and violent as they blocked traffic, damaged property and refused orders to disperse.
Video footage shows the moment federal agents emerged with Okeke in the early hours of Sunday.
Handcuffed, he was pulled down a short set of steps toward an ambulance bay as officers formed a barrier against shouting protesters. At one point, he appeared to fall to the ground before agents lifted him and forced him into a waiting vehicle.
According to police, protesters attempted to block the ambulance bay and prevent the vehicle from leaving, prompting further intervention.
Word spread rapidly that ICE agents were at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick, Brooklyn leading to a crowd of up to 200 protesters gathering outside and blocking the exits
Chidozie Wilson Okeke, a Nigerian national, was arrested by federal immigration agents in Brooklyn and later taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center for medical evaluation
Video footage captured a protester breaking the back windshield of an ICE vehicle with a skateboard
Eight people were arrested during the confrontation, facing charges including resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and criminal mischief. Another individual was issued a summons.
Authorities said several ICE vehicles were damaged and officers suffered minor injuries during the unrest.
The Department of Homeland Security said Okeke had overstayed a tourist visa and had prior arrests for assault and criminal drug possession.
According to a DHS spokesperson, the situation had already been volatile before the hospital standoff even began.
'During his arrest, Okeke refused to comply with officers' lawful commands to exit the vehicle and weaponized his vehicle to attempt to hit ICE officers,' the spokesperson said.
'Okeke became physically combative attempting to punch and elbow ICE officers. Our officers followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to make the arrest.'
After the confrontation, Okeke requested medical attention, prompting agents to transport him to the hospital.
By the time he arrived, a crowd had already begun to gather.
One NYPD officer could be seen throwing a protestor to the ground in video footage
The pair could be seen tussling before the protestor was floored
Eight people were arrested by police and charged with offenses including resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and criminal mischief
Police said protesters threw trash cans into the street, obstructed roadways near Stanhope Street and Wyckoff Avenue, and damaged vehicles during the confrontation
One local politician suggested the NYPD and ICE had been coordinating with one another
Police said protesters blocked traffic and obstructed the ambulance bay outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, preventing vehicles from moving freely as tensions escalated
Police attempted to disburse the protestors that were blocking the hospital's parking garage
Democratic New York State Senator Julia Salazar said on social media that ICE appears to have recently increased its presence in the Bushwick area, raising concerns among local residents
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called ICE's presence in Bushwick 'deeply disturbing'
City Councilmember Sandy Nurse whose district includes Bushwick said she was on the scene from around 11pm to 3am and claimed there was direct coordination between ICE and the NYPD
Within hours, that crowd swelled to what officials and witnesses described as a mass protest, with as many as 200 people converging outside the facility.
Protesters hurled trash cans into the streets and surrounded the exits to the hospital as tensions mounted.
The New York City Police Department said it had no role in the federal operation but responded after receiving 911 calls around 10:39pm, reporting a disorderly group near Stanhope Street and Wyckoff Avenue.
Officers arriving on scene encountered protesters who refused to leave.
Inside the hospital, the situation remained fluid as Okeke was evaluated while a prolonged standoff continued outside.
Brooklyn City Councilmember Sandy Nurse, who said she was at the scene from around 11pm to 3am, described how quickly the situation escalated once word spread.
'Word spread fast that ICE had brought someone they detained to the ER to be treated for injuries related to their kidnapping. New Yorkers showed up immediately,' she said on social media.
The New York City Police Department said it was not involved in the federal immigration operation and only responded after receiving 911 calls about a disorderly crowd blocking traffic
Police said protesters threw trash cans into the street, obstructed roadways near Stanhope Street and Wyckoff Avenue, and damaged vehicles during the confrontation
The protest continued into the early morning hours, with streets closed and tensions high until the crowd eventually dispersed
The NYPD said it was not involved in the ICE federal operation but responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a disorderly crowd blocking traffic and refusing to disperse
Despite the NYPD's insistence that it did not coordinate with federal agents, Nurse disputed that account writing: 'What I witnessed during the discharge appeared to be direct coordination between ICE and the NYPD, with officers cordoning off the ambulance bay to allow ICE to move the individual into their vehicles and leave.'
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called ICE's presence 'deeply disturbing' in a social media post, adding: 'To our neighbors who quickly mobilized last night, thank you for making it loud and clear that ICE is not welcome in Brooklyn.'
New York State Senator Julia Salazar suggested federal immigration enforcement had recently increased in the area, while residents expressed fear and uncertainty as the situation unfolded.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaking on Sunday morning, reiterated his opposition to ICE operations in the city.
'I've said time and time again, ICE raids are cruel and inhumane,' he said. 'They do nothing to serve in the interest of public safety.'