A parking contract at Pier 40 drew protesters to Pier 57 Tuesday night, where the Hudson River Park Trust board was holding a meeting.

What You Need To Know

A parking contract at Pier 40 drew protesters to Pier 57 Tuesday night, where the Hudson River Park Trust board was holding a meeting

Since the Trust operates the garage, protesters say the board has the power to end the deal

Federal records show payments for the current five-year agreement began in 2021, under the Biden administration, to date totaling nearly $800,000

However, the Trust says the agreement expires at the end of June, and it does not intend to renew it, but protesters say they want those vehicles gone now

Demonstrators demanded that the Trust cancel its agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, which provides parking spaces for vehicles used for immigration enforcement.

“The fact that [U.S. Immigration and Custooms Enforcement] is at the pier really worries us all,” Chelsea resident Margarita Aguilar said.

Since the Trust operates the garage, protesters say the board has the power to end the deal.

At one point, protesters attempted to interrupt the meeting, saying they wanted board members to hear their concerns directly.

“I don’t think it really matters when the contract was entered into. The fact is that ICE is acting under instruction from the current administration,” Brooklyn Heights resident Carrie Hamilton said.

Federal records show payments for the current five-year agreement began in 2021, under the Biden administration, to date totaling nearly $800,000.

Immigration authorities have rented parking spaces at Pier 40 since the early 2000s.

In a statement, a spokesperson wrote: “The Trust does not coordinate or engage with immigration enforcement, and has not observed any changes with respect to federal activities at Pier 40 or anywhere within the park as compared to the past two decades.”

“Institutions are creating beautiful parks like this also shouldn’t be places where ICE vehicles can park and terrorize the community,” Chelsea resident Zama Neff said.

However, the Trust says the agreement expires at the end of June, and it does not intend to renew it, but protesters say they want those vehicles gone now.

“The Hudson River Trust should cancel the contract, legalities be damned,” protest organizer Jay W Walker said.