Manhattan Prosecutors Ditch Felony Charges Against ICE Protesters in Historic Move
In a significant development, Manhattan prosecutors have significantly reduced felony charges against two individuals arrested during an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest in November. Natalia Arai and Asif Ali, both charged with second-degree assault, will now face misdemeanor charges.
The decision was made public on Wednesday at the hands of Assistant District Attorney Tatsiana Zhuk, who stated that neither defendant would face more than a year in jail. However, Zhuk did not provide any explanations for why the charges were downgraded.
Arai's attorney, Michael Lewis, expressed relief with the move, saying it was a "step in the right direction". The pair were arrested by NYPD officers near Canal Street on November 29th as anti-ICE protesters surrounded a parking garage believed to be used by federal authorities preparing for an immigration raid.
The protest occurred weeks after the first major ICE enforcement action in New York City since President Donald Trump's second term, highlighting the potential consequences of increased immigration raids.
During the protest, Arai allegedly kicked a garbage can that hit another officer and cut their leg, while Ali is accused of lifting a wooden pallet and pushing it onto an officer's foot. Both defendants were charged with assault in connection with these incidents.
After a court hearing on Wednesday, Judge Kacie Lally agreed to reduce the charges, setting new court dates for both Arai and Ali in March.
Arai refused to comment on her specific case, citing family concerns and saying she wanted to draw attention to the systemic injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II. Ali did not offer any post-court comments.
In a significant development, Manhattan prosecutors have significantly reduced felony charges against two individuals arrested during an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest in November. Natalia Arai and Asif Ali, both charged with second-degree assault, will now face misdemeanor charges.
The decision was made public on Wednesday at the hands of Assistant District Attorney Tatsiana Zhuk, who stated that neither defendant would face more than a year in jail. However, Zhuk did not provide any explanations for why the charges were downgraded.
Arai's attorney, Michael Lewis, expressed relief with the move, saying it was a "step in the right direction". The pair were arrested by NYPD officers near Canal Street on November 29th as anti-ICE protesters surrounded a parking garage believed to be used by federal authorities preparing for an immigration raid.
The protest occurred weeks after the first major ICE enforcement action in New York City since President Donald Trump's second term, highlighting the potential consequences of increased immigration raids.
During the protest, Arai allegedly kicked a garbage can that hit another officer and cut their leg, while Ali is accused of lifting a wooden pallet and pushing it onto an officer's foot. Both defendants were charged with assault in connection with these incidents.
After a court hearing on Wednesday, Judge Kacie Lally agreed to reduce the charges, setting new court dates for both Arai and Ali in March.
Arai refused to comment on her specific case, citing family concerns and saying she wanted to draw attention to the systemic injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II. Ali did not offer any post-court comments.
. I mean, breaking into a garbage can and hurting a cop is pretty violent, right? But I guess we're supposed to be "tolerant" of protesters now 
. Its just so much easier for the government to let people walk with misdemeanor charges rather than actually going through with felony trial... feel like they dont want to deal with the drama 
. Reducing felony charges against those who were fighting for a cause shows that sometimes, justice can be served without making examples out of people. It's a step in the right direction, and I'm glad Natalia Arai's lawyer is relieved about this move 
. Now, let's hope it sets a precedent for future protests and helps create a more open conversation about these important issues 
.
. It shows they're willing to listen to both sides & consider the context. These guys were just trying to speak out against an issue that affects many people's lives, and for that, they shouldn't be locked up hard 
.
. And hey, at least the court dates are set for March, so we can all wait & see how this plays out 
.
. It's like, I get it, but let's not confuse the issue here 
just heard about this huge move from a source close to the DA's office... so yeah they're basically taking the heat off these two ICE protesters who got caught up in a crazy situation near Canal St. i mean, the charges were pretty serious to start with, but now it's all being reduced to misdemeanors? that's gotta be some kind of deal, right? Arai's lawyer is hailing this as a "step in the right direction", but what really went down here? we'll have to wait and see how these court dates play out...
! Good move by Manhattan prosecutors 
, especially considering how intense those protests were 
. I mean, people just wanted to stand up for their rights and express themselves, no need for felony charges 
! Natalia Arai and Asif Ali's cases are a great example of this 
. It's about time someone listened to the voices of the community 
. Maybe it's a sign that things are changing in NYC 
?
It's like they say, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again' – or in this case, try being an NYPD officer who doesn't get thrown into a dumpster. 
Anyway, sounds like things are looking up for these two protesters, and I'm all for giving people a second chance... unless you're the garbage can, dude! 
. But at the same time, I'm a little frustrated that no one's giving any real explanations for why they made this decision... was there pressure from activists or community leaders? did someone in authority realize that the charges were gonna hurt the case against ICE protests overall? it feels like we're just scratching the surface here 
. Can't have people intimidated into silence by felony charges 
. And the fact that neither ADT nor Judge Lally explained why the charges were downgraded, just feels like a cover-up to me 