Recent law enforcement operations at Penn Station have led to a sharp increase in arrests for public lewdness, with at least 20 men now in ICE custody, as reported by Gothamist. This rise in arrests, which began in June, coincides with an aggressive crackdown by the Amtrak Police Department on activities in the transit hub’s notorious bathrooms, commonly known for anonymous sexual encounters and spotlighted on “cruising” apps like Sniffies.
While New York City’s sanctuary laws prevent local police from cooperating with ICE, Amtrak’s federal status obliges them to comply. According to the THE CITY, among those swept up in the crackdown was a healthcare worker who faced derogatory remarks while detained. The worker, identified only as David by THE CITY for privacy reasons, recounted how he was arrested and mocked by officers during the operation.
Yet, this crackdown isn’t without its critics. Advocates and legal professionals are raising concerns about the potential for rights violations and discriminatory targeting. Jennvine Wong, supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, expressed alarm at the swift escalation in arrests and the potential that the enforcement and cause for arrests may be flawed, as she explained to the Gothamist…