Dozens of residents banded together Tuesday to try to stop federal immigration agents from arresting an undocumented man wanted by police for burglary.
The neighbors gathered on 112th Street in Richmond Hill as ICE agents were arresting 35-year-old Hardat Sampat.
Sampat is accused of burglary and re-entering the U.S. illegally. He was on his way to Queens Criminal Court Tuesday morning for a scheduled appearance when ICE agents in unmarked cars boxed him in and took him into custody.
His wife, who was behind the wheel, refused to move the vehicle, blocking ICE agents from driving away.
Within minutes, a number of people began gathering in protest of the arrest.
“My sister in law, my mother in law, say he’s innocent,” said one woman, who wasn’t identified. “He didn’t do anything. Why? Why is this? He had a court case today. Let him go. And let the judge make the decision.”
Police eventually convinced Sampat’s wife to move her car, and ICE agents took Sampat in for processing.
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