What started as yet another anti-ICE protest in New York City quickly unraveled into chaos on Wednesday, offering a stark reminder of what happens when far-left agitators push past the bounds of lawful dissent.

According to CBS News, nearly two dozen demonstrators were taken into custody after a violent clash with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside an immigration court in lower Manhattan. The situation escalated when protesters attempted to storm the federal building, physically pushing back barricades and overwhelming the outnumbered agents on duty.

Agents were ultimately forced to deploy pepper spray to bring the situation under control — a non-lethal measure that prevented what could have become a much more dangerous confrontation. Painful as it may have been for those involved, the agents’ measured response was a display of professionalism in the face of provocation.

Independent journalist Andy Ngo, known for his courageous and tireless documentation of far-left extremism — often at personal cost — shared video footage of the incident on X (formerly Twitter), giving Americans a firsthand look at the day’s events:

WARNING: The follow video contains vulgar language that may offend some readers.

The footage, particularly around the one-minute mark, shows one protester rinsing another’s eyes after being hit with pepper spray — a painful moment, no doubt. But what’s even more painful is the spectacle of lawlessness masquerading as constitutionally protected protest.

This wasn’t a peaceful rally. It was an attempted jailbreak — a deliberate effort to interfere with the lawful detention of individuals by federal authorities. That crosses the line from protest to criminality.

Some activists reportedly claimed that one of the women involved in the altercation might be pregnant — a claim impossible to verify and one that merits skepticism, especially given the far left’s track record of emotional manipulation. Regardless, personal responsibility does not disappear in the face of ideology. Any expectant mother who voluntarily participates in a volatile street protest — especially one that escalates into near-riot conditions — accepts the risks that come with it. The consequences of those choices rest squarely on her shoulders, not on the law enforcement officers doing their duty.

Predictably, legacy media outlets have offered little sympathy for the ICE agents tasked with maintaining order. Mainstream coverage of these incidents almost always frames the agitators as victims, despite their clear violations of the law and public order.

Yet viewers of Ngo’s video overwhelmingly supported the agents’ actions, praising their restraint and discipline under difficult circumstances. That kind of level-headed response is rarely acknowledged in corporate media narratives — but it’s something Americans who believe in the rule of law should take note of.

When government officials — particularly under President Donald Trump’s leadership — work to uphold the law, secure our borders, and protect American sovereignty, they deserve public support, not harassment from mobs emboldened by radical ideologies.

What happened in New York City on Wednesday wasn’t a noble act of civil disobedience. It was an illegal, aggressive stunt that endangered public safety. Thankfully, the agents involved stood their ground, upheld the law, and prevented a dangerous escalation — with remarkable composure, no less.

And for that, they deserve more than just grudging acknowledgment. They deserve thanks.