Hundreds gathered in New York City's Foley Square on Wednesday after a woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis.

The mayor of Minneapolis said the ICE agent acted recklessly, but the Department of Homeland Security secretary said he acted in self-defense.

More ICE protests are expected Thursday in Lower Manhattan. 

Protesters gather in Foley Square after fatal ICE shooting

Protesters began gathering in Foley Square around 6 p.m. for what was billed as an emergency rally in response to the Minneapolis shooting. It was organized by the New York Immigration Coalition.

One organizer said, in part, what happened in Minneapolis "marks a violent escalation in ICE's tactics and the state's repression of politician dissidents."

"We anticipate that they're probably going to come and bring more ICE agents into New York City, and our plan is to be more organized than they are, just like you saw down in Chinatown," said Hannah Stauss, with the organization Hands Off NYC.  

The demonstrators protested for several hours, at one point marching around the nearby federal immigration building before returning to Foley Square.

"As an American, I feel totally betrayed," protester Claire Kavanah said.

"To show the outcry, show the disbelief, the hurt, the anger, the fear, all the emotions that we're feeling right now," protester Adriana Suarez said.

Suarez immigrated from Venezuela and has lived in New York for a decade.

"We can't just go home as everyone wants us to do, so it's been a hard week," she said.

"I think that's the part of the point, is to try and make people afraid," Stauss said, "but I think if anything, and if this crowd proves anything, it's that we're not gonna back down. We're not gonna stand down 'cause they want us to be afraid."

New York City police officers were present for the march and protest, which remained peaceful throughout the night.

NYC leaders react to Minneapolis shooting

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was among the protesters at the rally in Foley Square.

"They have deported U.S. citizens. They have now shot and killed a U.S. citizen," he said.

Wednesday afternoon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting horrific.

"I have made it clear to everyone within my city government, and that extends to NYPD, that we are going to uphold our sanctuary city policies. We are going to adhere to them," he said. "That is why one of the 11 executive orders that we signed was to repeal the previous administration's order to allow for collaboration with ICE on Rikers Island."

New York's sanctuary city laws prohibit city workers and resources from being used to aid in civil immigration enforcement with exceptions for violent criminals.

"Know that when ICE agents attack immigrants, they attack every single one of us across this country," Mamdani said, "and this is a city, and will always be a city that stands up for immigrants across the five boroughs."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

"Today in Minneapolis, a masked Department of Homeland Security agent shot and killed an unarmed woman who was not the target of an immigration enforcement action.

"There is no evidence that has been presented to justify this killing. Secretary Kristi Noem is a stone-cold liar and has zero credibility. The masked ICE agent who pulled the trigger should be criminally investigated to the full extent of the law for acting with depraved indifference to human life. 

"I pray for the loved ones of the victim and stand with the people of Minneapolis during this difficult time. The American people must reject this cruelty and extremism."