Activists Help Two Men Avoid Immigration Arrest in New York

In a small town in Upstate New York, activists are celebrating after successfully assisting two men in evading U.S. Border Patrol agents by taking refuge on a rooftop. The situation escalated, with officers bringing a ladder to reach the men, but they managed to push it away and maintain their position for several hours.

This incident unfolded in Oswego, New York, around 1:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, as reported by local news sources. Initial calls to the Oswego police were over a reckless driver, but it turned out to be federal agents conducting an immigration operation. Mayor Robert Corradino indicated that the police chief informed him federal agents were after a driver who managed to escape on foot and climb onto a rooftop on 7th Street.

In a statement released the following day, Corradino confirmed that the Border Patrol was trying to “apprehend multiple individuals” with federal warrants and that the subjects had fled from a vehicle after a brief pursuit. According to the mayor, the individuals successfully made it to the second story of a residence and refused to come down.

The situation drew the attention of locals and activists, who began to confront the officers, questioning if they had proper warrants and urging them to leave the area. Protesters threw water bottles to the men and cheered when one of the men successfully caught one of the bottles during the standoff.

Notably, an online influencer claiming to be a U.S. Marine veteran documented the event, showcasing the protesters’ efforts to drive away the officers. After about six hours of tension, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the agents withdrew from the scene. The gathered protesters remained vigilant to ensure that they weren’t tricked into leaving, allowing the agents to come back and detain the men.

Estimates suggest that over 70 protesters were on hand during these events. In light of accusations that local officers may have been assisting with immigration enforcement, Mayor Corradino attempted to clarify the situation. He stated, “Our police officers acted swiftly to support the school district, protect private property, and de-escalate conflicts as they emerged,” adding that police did not assist in any arrests related to the Federal agents’ investigation.

As of now, there has been no response from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the incident.