Residents of Manhattan's Marble Hill neighbourhood have voiced anger and fear following an incident on Thursday night where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot Oscar Belgal, 28. The shooting occurred while Belgal's child was in the back of his car, according to witnesses.
Orlando Perez, who witnessed the arrest on 225th St and Marble Hill Avenue, stated that Belgal was shot in the neck, apparently with an assault-style rifle, before being arrested by ICE. Perez also noted that the agents targeting Belgal were not wearing uniforms or identification badges.
The homeland security secretary, Markwayne Mullin, stated on Friday morning that federal officers were unaware a child was in the car. However, Perez claimed the car's light window tints meant ICE "had to see that the kid was inside."
Leading New York City and state politicians have condemned the actions of ICE and called for an investigation into the incident. New York's progressive Democratic mayor, Zohran Mamdani, strongly condemned ICE on Thursday night and called for the agency to be abolished.
A hearing was expected in New York federal court on Friday afternoon concerning a petition of habeas corpus requesting Belgal’s release from custody.