A New York City police officer leads protester Monica Hunken into a squad car after she was arrested along with other people demonstrating against the detention of prominent immigration rights activist Ravi Ragbir, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, outside City Hall in New York. Ragbir's attorney Alina Das said her client, a citizen of Trinidad who has been fighting deportation after a fraud conviction, was handcuffed and led away Thursday during a scheduled check-in with immigration officials in lower Manhattan. Federal immigration officials did not immediately provide information on his status to The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City police have arrested 18 people, including two councilmen, in protests over the detention of a prominent immigration activist.
The demonstrations outside a federal building in Manhattan were over the detention of Ravi Ragbir (RAH'-vee RAHG'-beer), a citizen of Trinidad who has been fighting deportation after a fraud conviction.
His lawyer, Alina Das, says Ragbir was handcuffed Thursday during a scheduled check-in with immigration officials.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman says Ragbir has "exhausted" his appeals and will be deported.
Police arrested demonstrators who blocked an ambulance, thinking Ragbir was inside. City Councilmen Ydanis Rodriguez and Jumaane Williams, both Democrats, were among those arrested.
Rodriguez posted a picture of his arrest on Twitter writing, "This is NOT how you treat people who are protesting for Human Rights."
A protester holds a sign demanding the release of detained Ravi Ragbir, a prominent immigration activist, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2017, in New York. New York City police have arrested 18 people, including two councilmen, in protests over the detention of the activist. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Demonstrators arrested protesting the detention of detained Ravi Ragbir, a prominent immigration activist, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2017, in New York. New York City police have arrested more than a dozen people, including two councilmen, in protests over the detention of the activist. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)