CBP Presence in Rochester’s Park Ave Spurs Protest, Deflated Tires

 A federal immigration enforcement action in Rochester’s Park Avenue neighborhood Tuesday morning drew a swift and forceful response from the community, ending with chants, slashed tires and federal agents retreating from the scene.

Witnesses said U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at a rental property on Westminster Road where roofing work was underway. One worker was detained, but two others remained on the roof as the operation stalled.

Within minutes, residents and immigrant advocates converged on the street. The crowd quickly swelled to between 100 and 200 people, including clergy, attorneys, and local officials. Protesters chanted “No ICE” and “Shame,” while attorneys pressed agents to show proper documentation.

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford said she was asked by lawyers with the New York Immigration Coalition to intervene. “This is a private residence, so we just wanted to make sure that everything is happening within the bounds of the law,” she said.

Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, who joined the protest, described the community’s actions as necessary. “This is not acceptable in our communities,” she said. “The people who showed up today demonstrated that Rochester will not tolerate these tactics.”

As tensions mounted, a CBP SUV was disabled when its tires were flattened. The vehicle was later towed from the neighborhood while demonstrators jeered. Federal authorities confirmed the incident is under investigation.

Rochester Police said they were not involved in the operation. “This was strictly a federal matter,” Capt. Greg Bello told reporters.

Immigrant advocacy groups said they mobilized quickly to ensure due process. Irene Sanchez, executive director of the Western New York Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies, said her team was on-site to provide legal education and support. “We were there to help ensure the rights of impacted individuals were respected,” she said.

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, who represents Rochester, commended the community’s response. “Rochester, N.Y., is not Washington, D.C.,” he said. “We showed up to make it clear that Rochester will not stand by idly.”

The attempted arrests come amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has stepped up operations in so-called sanctuary cities like Rochester. Local leaders and activists say such raids erode trust and sow fear among immigrant communities.

CBP referred all questions to ICE, which has not released details about the worker taken into custody.