CAIR-NY Condemns FBI Surveillance of Immigration-Rights Volunteers; Condemns ICE Raid in Chinatown
(NEW YORK, NY, 11/24/25) — The New York chapter of the Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today expressed grave concern over newly revealed federal documents showing that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) surveilled a private encrypted chat group used by immigration-rights volunteers in New York City, labeling their activities as “anarchist violent extremist actors.” CAIR-NY also condemned a raid by ICE in Chinatown.
According to reporting from The Guardian, a “joint situational information report” dated August 28, 2025, quoted directly from a private group chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal in which volunteers coordinating courtroom observation (“court-watch”) discussed how to document federal immigration-court proceedings. Among the content cited: discussions on how to gain access to federal court rooms, filming law enforcement badges and vehicles, and coordinating presence at three federal immigration court locations in Manhattan.
Over the weekend, ICE agents were present near Centre Street in Chinatown, where about a dozen protesters were arrested. The protesters shouted "ICE out of New York," according to videos.
SEE: The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
SEE: Protesters arrested in NYC over possible ICE-related activity near Chinatown
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq., said:
“This revelation should alarm every American who cares about civil rights and the rule of law. Volunteers engaged in legitimate court-watching are now being portrayed by our own government as ‘violent extremists’ and that is simply unacceptable. When counter-terrorism tools are misused to cast civic oversight as a security threat, the foundations of our democracy are weakened.
“Muslim Americans know all too well the consequences when government surveillance is disproportionately directed at communities exercising their right to speak, observe, and bear witness. The safeguards that protect our civil liberties must apply equally to everyone — regardless of faith, immigration status, or the color of one’s skin.
“The disturbing reports from Chinatown this weekend only deepens these concerns. The presence of ICE agents and the arrest of peaceful demonstrators calling for immigrant protections illustrate how aggressive enforcement and surveillance tactics can intimidate communities and chill lawful protest.”
CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com;
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com