Nearly 200 Arrested in Amtrak Penn Station Gay Cruising Sting

Since June, nearly 200 men have been arrested by Amtrak Police in a crackdown on public lewdness at the men’s bathroom near the Eighth Avenue and 31st Street entrance of New York's Penn Station, a known cruising spot listed on the gay hookup app Sniffies. The operation, involving undercover officers using body cameras, has raised serious concerns about discriminatory policing practices targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and has revived fears of queer entrapment reminiscent of past eras. Approximately 20 of those arrested were transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), intensifying worries among immigrant rights advocates, especially under the Trump administration's expanded deportation efforts. Among those detained was a gay healthcare worker who was arrested despite merely using the bathroom while wearing a Pride wristband; his charges were later dropped. New York elected officials, including State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and others, have publicly condemned the sting operations, demanding they cease and calling for meetings with Amtrak leadership to address the issue. The targeted community has responded by sharing alerts about undercover police presence, highlighting a climate of fear and confusion surrounding the enforcement efforts.