A coach with more than two decades of experience in youth baseball in Manhattan, Youman Wilder, was nearly arrested after a confrontation with ICE agents in the middle of practice.
The unsettling incident took place in Riverside Park near 72nd Street on June 26, while Wilder was running a batting cage session with 11 middle and high school students.
Anyone who is inclined to blame the American working class for Trump's assault on immigrants, read this interview with youth baseball coach Youman Wilder, who fended off ICE agents accosting his players earlier this month in New York City.
— Eric Lee (@EricLeeAtty) July 11, 2025
Just read the whole damn thing: 🧵 1/5 pic.twitter.com/fcXVx3MHGI
Moreover, all the kids were American-born with family roots in Africa, South America, and Mexico.
What started as a normal day of baseball turned into a civil rights standoff.
Youman Wilder’s Was Suddenly Interruption At Batting Practice
Wilder, who runs the Harlem Baseball Hitting Academy, explained that he briefly stepped away to shoot hoops nearby when he noticed agents wearing ICE jackets, badges, tasers, and guns approaching the kids.
Wilder said,
“They were asking the kids inappropriate things like where they’re from, their country of origin. So I stepped in right away and told the officers their questions were out of line. I told the kids not to answer.”
The situation escalated quickly as the agents accused Wilder of obstructing justice, allegedly threatening to cuff him.
Be like Youman Wilder 🫡
— Comrade Ohio (@ComradeOhio) July 10, 2025
Baseball coach who stood up against ice for his players.
Don't be like the people who let ice intimidate them and did nothing. https://t.co/uwgztAHdNN pic.twitter.com/6AFOfW0Qan
But Wilder, armed with a law degree from Grand Canyon University, pushed back calmly.
“They said, ‘If the kids are here legally, what do they have to lose by answering?’ I told them, they still have their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. It doesn’t matter what their citizenship status is — they don’t have to speak to you.”
Youmna Wilder remained composed, refusing to raise his voice, relying instead on his knowledge of the law.
He said,
“It’s all about civics. If you don’t know your rights, they will trample on them. My goal wasn’t to argue, it was to protect these kids and get them home safely.”
Meanwhile, a small crowd of bystanders gathered, but according to Wilder, the agents ordered them not to take pictures and warned they could be arrested for interference.
Shockingly, Wilder says, most complied.
“That was the worst part, people just did what they were told. No one documented what was happening.”
Eventually, the agents left. But the impact of the encounter remains.
Families Now Fear Returning To The Park
Youman Wilder says the incident left the students’ families shaken as none of the children has returned to that part of Riverside Park since.
He explained,
“We’ve been practicing farther uptown. The parents are scared. They don’t want their kids near that area now.”
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal confirmed reports of the ICE presence in her district newsletter, calling attention to the situation and praising the coach’s actions.
She wrote,
“The only thing that stood between those kids in Riverside Park and a Florida detention center buried deep in the Everglades was a brave coach who knew the law.”
Youman Wilder Doesn’t Regret Stepping In
Despite multiple follow-ups from the media, ICE has not confirmed or denied the presence of agents in the park that day.
A spokesperson initially said a formal statement would be provided, but days later, no such statement has been released.
This uncertainty has fueled concern in the community, particularly in light of growing reports of individuals impersonating ICE agents to intimidate vulnerable populations.
Wilder says he doesn’t regret stepping in, even if the threat of arrest was real.
“I’m African American. Most of my kids are Black and Latino. In that moment, I wasn’t just their coach. I was their guardian. I knew they couldn’t keep me, even if they cuffed me. But I had to get my kids home.”
His actions have sparked praise from community leaders and families alike.
As for Wilder, he hopes the story will remind Americans of their rights and the importance of standing up for them.
He said,
“I would do it again in a heartbeat. This is bigger than baseball.”
