Former mayor's son among dozens arrested at anti-ICE hotel protest

Dante de Blasio, son of ex-NYC mayor, charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct

Jan. 28, 2026 at 8:23pm

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Dante de Blasio, the 29-year-old son of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, was among dozens of protesters arrested for occupying the lobby of a Manhattan hotel that activists accused of housing federal immigration agents. The protesters held signs and rallied for over 45 minutes, decrying the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns in Minneapolis and other communities.

Why it matters

The protest highlights growing tensions between immigration activists and federal agencies like ICE, which has faced accusations of using heavy-handed tactics in its enforcement efforts. The involvement of a high-profile figure like the former mayor's son also draws attention to the issue.

The details

Police arrested 66 people at the protest, with all but two charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct. Dante de Blasio was among those charged. The remaining two protesters were charged with obstruction of government administration for trying to prevent officers from removing protesters from the lobby. Protest organizers said they targeted the Tribeca Hilton after receiving tips it was housing ICE agents, though a law enforcement source said no ICE agents were staying at the hotel that night.

  • The protest occurred around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.

The players

Dante de Blasio

The 29-year-old son of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct during the protest.

Bill de Blasio

The former mayor of New York City and father of Dante de Blasio.

Carly Shaffer

A 25-year-old activist with Sunrise Movement NYC who said the protest organizers targeted the Tribeca Hilton after receiving tips it was housing ICE agents.

Dora Pekec

A spokesperson for the current mayor, Mayor Mamdani, who praised both the protesters and the NYPD's response to the demonstration.

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What they’re saying

“I was arrested while protesting the deployment of ICE agents to New York City. ICE is operating like a rogue, authoritarian agency, snatching people, including many U.S. citizens, off the streets with impunity.”

— Dante de Blasio (The News)

“ICE's violent and authoritarian tactics are un-American. Clamping down on protests and murdering citizens for the crime of speaking out and protesting is a direct contradiction of the founding principles of our country. ICE has no place in New York City.”

— Dante de Blasio (The News)

“We were following the lead of our friends in Minneapolis who have been dealing with Hiltons there housing ICE agents. They've been leading a pretty aggressive campaign to get Hilton to stop housing ICE agents. If these agents don't have a place to sleep, they can't be in our neighborhoods terrorizing them.”

— Carly Shaffer, Activist with Sunrise Movement NYC (The News)

“Mayor Mamdani commends the protestors who exercised their right to protest against ICE today. As he has said, ICE is a rogue agency that has repeatedly carried out cruel, inhumane and lawless raids and arrests of American citizens. The mayor is also pleased with the NYPD's response to the protest and that today's demonstration concluded without violence.”

— Dora Pekec, City Hall spokesperson (The News)

What’s next

The judge will decide on whether to allow Dante de Blasio out on bail in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the ongoing tensions between immigration activists and federal agencies like ICE, as well as the willingness of high-profile figures like the former mayor's son to get arrested in acts of civil disobedience to draw attention to the issue.