New York demonstrators slam Donald Trump`s anti-immigration tack

New York: More than a thousand people took to New York streets on Wednesday to condemn President Donald Trump`s border wall and immigration plans.

The US leader ordered officials to start designing and building a physical wall along the southern border earlier in the day. He is also said to be floating the idea of a ban on refugees from Muslim-majority countries, including Syria.

Demonstrators of all stripes turned out to rally after 5:00 pm (2200 GMT) in Manhattan`s Washington Square Park.

"No ban, no wall, New York is for all," demonstrators chanted.

Many of their signs called for the defense of Muslims` rights and the continued reception of refugees from Syria and other Muslim countries in conflict.

"It`s really scary," said Thariha Choudbury, a Muslim from Bangladesh.

"Since he (Trump) was elected, I really feel that Islamophobia has increased, and it can only continue because it has given power to racists in this country."

The president earlier in the day promised to cut funding to jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with the federal government on its policies.

"I am married to an immigrant, my friends are immigrants... We are a city of immigrants and we must defend our communities," another protestor, Austin Guillem, stressed at the rally.

Trump may sign another decree on Thursday restricting access to the United States for refugees and holders of visas from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, US media reported.