Federal Immigration Operation Leads to Shooting in New York
A Dominican man was shot in the neck by a federal immigration officer while driving with a 5-year-old boy in New York, officials reported. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) labeled the incident a ‘targeted enforcement operation,’ but protesters and local officials criticized it as a result of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Oscar Belgal, the 28-year-old man involved, survived the shooting and received treatment at a hospital. DHS did not provide detailed information on the incident, only noting that an ICE officer discharged a weapon, injuring Belgal. According to City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Belgal was pulling into a parking space when approached by plainclothes federal officers. At least one officer fired seven shots, hitting Belgal under his left ear. The child in the car was unharmed and was taken care of by relatives. City police were not part of the operation but responded to the gunshots.
The DHS stated that their goal was to arrest a ‘criminal illegal alien’ with a grand larceny conviction and more arrests on record. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, outraged by the event, declared there was no justification for the actions taken. He accused the federal officers of wearing masks and construction vests, making identification challenging. Mamdani spent time Thursday night attempting to persuade President Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to release Belgal and end immigration operations in the city, to no avail. Late that night, federal authorities removed Belgal from the hospital.
“There is no justification for what we have seen today,” said Mayor Mamdani.
The shooting happened around 4 p.m. in Marble Hill, Manhattan, bordering the Bronx. Though not capturing the shooting itself, a nearby NYPD security camera recorded events leading up to the gunfire. Nearby restaurant employee Pedro Almaraz heard the shots and saw officers surround Belgal. Aftermath videos posted on social media capture Belgal with hands behind his back, and New York City police later carrying him into a police vehicle. His vehicle showed evidence of the shooting, with bullet holes in the windshield and rear windows.
Many took to a nearby hospital for a protest, where officials reported Belgal being treated. City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, representing the area, condemned the actions alongside other local politicians who expressed outrage. Protesters chanted for ICE to leave the streets and blocked a hospital intersection. Police arrested several people following clashes at barricades.
The DHS blamed ‘sanctuary policies’ in Democrat-controlled areas for forcing officers into ‘dangerous environments’ to arrest ‘illegal aliens.’ There is no clear definition of sanctuary jurisdictions, but they typically refer to state and local governments limiting engagement with federal immigration authorities.
“We need to have better transparency,” said Marble Hill resident Alfred Silva. “Anybody can put on a vest and claim to be ICE.”
Belgal, previously arrested for robbery in 2023, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and received probation. Arrested again on drug-related charges, Belgal has pleaded not guilty, and the case remains unresolved. ICE agents opened fire during over a dozen vehicle stops since last year, resulting in multiple casualties. In September, ICE ordered restricted engagement in high-speed chases and set stricter conditions for traffic stops.