Maurice B. | Red Phoenix correspondent | New York–

On June 19, popularly celebrated as Juneteenth, organizers and working-class organizations from across the Bronx mobilized at Fordham Plaza to speak out and rally in response to the ever-growing presence of the Gestapo emulators of ICE agents across the borough. In recent weeks, there have been increased sightings of ICE agents in Fordham, East Tremont, Hunts Point, Soundview and other neighborhoods in the BX.

Per ICE’s publicly available data, 501 arrests have been made across NYC since January 2025 – although we revolutionary workers are certain these figures severely under-represent the true scope of their operations, and their cannibalistic intentions. These operations are almost exclusively conducted by plainclothes agents with face-coverings, lurking in unmarked vehicles, snatching our friends, comrades and neighbors off the streets and fast-tracking their deportation to the super-max CECOT prison in El Salvador where, it is popularly held that, “the only way out is in a coffin.”

The center of this criminal and inhumane campaign against our communities is at a currently unmarked and scaffolded building at the corner of Park Ave and E 189th St., and specifically the business address 410 E 189th, formerly home to Doshi Diagnostic Imaging. This detention center serves as a glaring example of the hypocrisy of the American ruling class, disgracing other nations for the very extrajudicial repressive measures that they themselves utilize on their own people. This black site serves as an essential hub of the ongoing class struggle across the country, and the growing resistance against the downright barbaric ICE raids that have been tearing apart families and terrorizing the city’s most vulnerable and essential residents – working-class immigrants. 

June 19, 2025, was a representation of the growing unpopularity of ICE and their raids on our friends, family and neighbors. In the wake of the unjust kidnappings of two young Venezuelan men in particular, 19-year old Merweil Gutierrez and 20-year old Dylan from Ellis Prep High School, lit a fire under working-class Bronxites –many of whom are immigrants themselves or come from first-, second-, or third-generation households– that has grown into a coalition of progressive and revolutionary organizations determined to fight back against the fascist violence and terror of ICE and Trump.

From Fordham Plaza to Jerome Avenue, a procession of anti-fascist Bronxites marched through the streets voicing demands for ICE to stop all operations in the Bronx, New York City, New York state, and nation-wide. Demonstrators were met with popular support by the people of the borough who danced to our chants, honked and clapped in solidarity with our message, and even joined us hand-in-hand as part of our column invigorating our spirits.

This messaging included the chants: “¡Trump, puñeta! ¡Vete pa’ la mierda!” (Trump, you bitch! Out of here with that shit!), “¡La policía! ¡La migra! ¡La misma porquería!” (The cops! ICE! The same shit!), and “Fuck ICE! Get out of the Bronx!” (¡Jodete ICE! ¡Fuera el Bronx!).

As officers with the NYPD attempted to kettle the procession and other times redirect us from traveling up E Fordham Rd or E 188th St. (which as Bronx residents are well aware, cuts through Grand Concourse, one of the most bustling areas of the West Bronx), it only further proved to the community and to the members of the demonstration who was on the side of the people and who was on the side of fascism. To echo another chant of the day, and to put simply the sentiments of the Bronx and its residents: “The people of the Bronx say ‘No! Hell No!’! Trump and ICE; gotta go-gotta go!” (¡El pueblo del Bronx dice ‹¡No! ¡No! ¡No›! ¡Trump y ICE; tienen que ir!)

Free Merweil Gutierrez!

Free Dylan!

End the ICE raids!

Abolish ICE!

Down with MAGA-Trump fascism!

Categories: Immigration, Racism, U.S. News