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."