New York, Oct. 23 -- The US Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday (local time) that its agents arrested nine men accused of living in the United States illegally, The New York Times reported.

The men, mostly from West Africa and some with prior arrests, were targeted in an operation "focused on criminal activity relating to selling counterfeit goods," the department said. The agents also arrested four protesters.

People across New York City appeared on edge after the raid, seemingly bracing for the activation of US President Donald Trump's threat to deploy military personnel and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to New York City, which he often casts as lawless and dangerous. Trump has already moved to send troops t...