Federal immigration agents retreated from a residential job site on Westminster Road in Rochester’s Park Avenue neighborhood on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, after a four-hour standoff with more than 100 protesters during a planned ICE removal operation targeting roofing workers. One worker—identified by his employer as “Chino”—was detained early in the action. As tensions grew, protesters chanted “shame” and “Gestapo,” blocked further detentions, and a Border Patrol SUV’s tires were slashed. With the vehicle disabled and the remaining workers refusing to descend from the roof, agents withdrew as the crowd applauded, according to witnesses on scene and local accounts.
Context: Federal enforcement and local pushback
The confrontation in Rochester is the latest flashpoint in New York under the second-term enforcement push by President Trump. His administration has sent large teams of federal officers into sanctuary jurisdictions and, in some cases, drawn on National Guard support for immigration sweeps.
- Federal officials say the widened effort is necessary to enforce the law in cities they accuse of withholding cooperation.
- Advocates and some city agencies counter that these tactics chill community trust, increase fear in immigrant neighborhoods, and put local workers and families at risk.
Clayton Baker, the roofing employer present at the site, said the detained worker had lived in the United States for 25 years, had what Baker described as legal work documentation, no criminal record, and was a family man who paid taxes. That account fueled anger among protesters and community members who argued the day’s actions did not target criminals but people who have built lives in Rochester.
How the scene unfolded
As officers moved across the site, witnesses said the remaining workers stayed on the roof while demonstrators formed human lines at street level and used phones to record every step.
- Protesters blocked driveways and sidewalks and formed a soft perimeter.
- People passed water and phone chargers; neighbors came out of homes, some with children.
- When the Border Patrol SUV’s tires went flat, the crowd roared. No one publicly claimed responsibility for the slashing, but images and video spread online within minutes.
A spokesman for federal authorities did not immediately respond to questions about the tire-slashing incident or the decision to pull back. The sequence fits a wider pattern: in recent months, New York job sites, residences, and neighborhood corners have drawn organized demonstrations when ICE teams arrive. Protesters track agents in real time, call residents and hotlines, and summon legal observers.
In Rochester, community groups showed up quickly. The Western New York Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies stepped in to help mediate and de-escalate as tempers rose.
Local policy changes and operational impact
The Tuesday operation unfolded in a city that had just moved to harden its sanctuary protections.
- In August, the Rochester City Council voted unanimously to codify limits on cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- New York City agencies have similarly updated internal rules telling city workers and nonprofit shelter staff to involve lawyers before letting ICE or Border Patrol enter any facility—and to deny access unless presented with a warrant signed by a judge.
- Administratively issued immigration warrants (signed by immigration officers) do not grant entry under those city policies.
These local measures have been framed by the Trump administration as barriers to lawful arrests. Department of Homeland Security officials argue that when cities block cooperation, officers must rely more on field operations at homes and workplaces, which they say are riskier for everyone. Critics reply that federal teams are choosing aggressive tactics—surveillance, unmarked vehicles, and large raids—in neighborhoods with many mixed-status families and children, making routine life feel unsafe.
Practical operation steps and the changing plan
Removal operations are usually methodical:
- Teams gather near a target address.
- Monitor comings and goings.
- Confirm identities.
- Move in.
In Rochester, the plan changed fast as the crowd grew. The slashed tires turned a slow wait into a clear tactical setback for agents. The decision to pull back avoided further confrontation but left questions:
- Would federal teams return?
- Would local police take a different stance next time?
- Would employers face penalties?
Employers’ role and community reactions
Employers have complex positions in these events. Some cooperate with federal investigators by sharing payroll records and calendars. Others—like Clayton Baker—publicly support workers, humanizing them as neighbors and family members.
- Baker’s description of Chino as a long-term resident with legal work documents resonated with neighbors.
- Federal officials say such descriptions can obscure immigration violations they’re tasked with addressing.
- For locals, legal lines can feel like thin cover for breaking apart communities.
The role of mediators and legal observers
The Western New York Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies played a key mediating role on Tuesday:
- Passing messages between officers, workers, and attorneys.
- Asking both sides to lower tensions.
- Keeping lists of detained individuals and where they are being held.
- Helping family members make contact.
Their presence likely prevented rapid crowd escalation and created a path for a slower, safer exit.
City guidance and broader administrative rules
Recent New York City internal memos require staff to:
- Document all federal agent visits: names, badge numbers, timestamps, and requests.
- Redirect agents to legal counsel and deny access without a judge-signed warrant.
- Bar ICE from schools (Department of Education).
- Require immediate legal review for shelter approaches (Department of Social Services).
- Allow exceptions only in imminent life-safety emergencies.
These memos, while directed at city personnel, have become models for nonprofits across the state, including groups in Rochester that staff shelters, clinics, and food programs serving mixed-status families.
Legal and tactical tug-of-war
The larger frame is a tug-of-war over federal power and local control:
- The Trump administration says New York’s limits force ICE into more field operations and that strong enforcement deters future violations.
- Local agencies argue that broad sweeps and job-site raids undermine school attendance and public health, and create fear in daily life.
Under federal law, immigration is a federal responsibility. But cities decide how their workers engage with federal agents—creating space for sanctuary rules. Earlier White House policies set “sensitive locations” protections; the current administration rolled back those limits. New York City has attempted to restore protections administratively; Rochester’s council vote signals a similar approach.
Risks, recommended community responses, and resources
Advocacy groups stress that direct confrontations carry real legal risks. They recommend:
- Avoid touching officers and keep a safe distance.
- Film from public space only.
- Call legal hotlines and trusted legal providers first.
- Follow basic know-your-rights guidance:
- Do not open doors unless a warrant signed by a judge is shown; ask agents to slide any warrant under the door.
- Say out loud: “I choose to remain silent” and “I want to speak to a lawyer.”
- Do not answer questions about birthplace or how you entered the country.
- Avoid signing documents without counsel.
- Keep key documents safe and plan for child care if detention occurs.
Practical resources cited in the article:
– ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations overview: https://www.ice.gov/ero
– ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations hotline: 1-888-351-4024
– Legal Aid Society (NYC): 212-577-3300
– NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS): 212-386-0000
– Western New York Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies: contact via its official website for clinic dates and contact points
– New York Immigration Coalition: online inquiries for rights trainings and rapid response support
Important: Advocates stress contacting trusted legal providers first rather than relying solely on federal hotlines.
Political and legal fallout
Tuesday’s standoff will likely ripple beyond Rochester:
- Videos of the Border Patrol vehicle with flat tires being towed away circulated widely, reinforcing the message for some that crowds can push back.
- Advocates warn that should not be read as a call to break the law; instead they promote lawful actions—filming, forming information lines, calling legal hotlines, and refusing entry without a judge’s warrant.
- Federal officials may adjust tactics in response—different hours, larger teams, or more surveillance—creating a cycle of move and countermove.
Lawyers expect more court fights over how far cities can block or slow access and how much force federal teams can use during workplace actions. If legal battles reach higher courts, cities like Rochester will watch closely; outcomes could define how local staff are allowed to act when federal agents arrive.
Immediate facts and local aftermath
The concrete facts from Tuesday’s action:
– One worker detained
– More than 100 protesters
– Four hours of standoff
– A forced retreat after a Border Patrol vehicle’s tires were slashed
What follows:
– Legal intake for the detained worker
– Employer statements and community gatherings
– Likely more early-morning patrols by federal teams
– Continued adjustments to city protocols
People in Rochester described the day ending with mixed feelings: relief that more workers were not taken away, worry for Chino and his family, and uncertainty about tomorrow. Videos and images will persist online, serving as symbols for different audiences—either of community strength or of law enforcement under siege.
Rochester now joins other New York communities where ICE operations have met organized, sustained pushback. Whether federal teams change hours or scale, whether cities adjust rules, and whether communities continue to meet officers at the curb, the core conflict remains: a federal government pressing strict enforcement, and local communities deciding how far they will go to stand in the way.
This Article in a Nutshell
On September 9, 2025, federal immigration agents conducted a planned removal operation at a roofing job site on Westminster Road in Rochester. One worker, identified as “Chino,” was detained; his employer said he had lived in the U.S. for 25 years and held work documentation. More than 100 protesters formed human lines, chanted, and prevented further detentions. A Border Patrol vehicle’s tires were slashed, disabling the SUV and contributing to a four-hour standoff that ended when agents withdrew. The episode reflects a wider clash between intensified federal enforcement and local sanctuary measures—Rochester had recently codified limits on cooperation—and highlights mediation by local groups, community safety guidance, and potential legal battles over enforcement tactics and municipal authority.
