New York Mayor Condemns Shooting by Federal Immigration Officer

A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and wounded a 28-year-old Dominican man during an attempted arrest in New York City, triggering protests and renewed criticism of federal immigration enforcement.

The shooting occurred at about 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, in Marble Hill, a neighbourhood in northern Manhattan. New York police identified the injured man as Oscar Belgal. He was shot in the neck and survived, receiving treatment at a hospital. A five-year-old child who was inside the vehicle was not injured.

According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Belgal was pulling into a parking space when a federal officer in plain clothes approached him with a gun drawn. Another officer then approached the vehicle. Tisch said Belgal began moving the car forward before at least one officer fired seven rounds, striking him below the left ear. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not provide a detailed account of what led to the shooting.

DHS described the incident as part of a targeted enforcement operation to arrest a Dominican national with a previous grand larceny conviction and a history of other arrests. The agency said an officer discharged a weapon during the operation and that officers provided immediate assistance to the injured man.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the shooting, saying there was no justification for what had happened. He criticised the officers’ use of masks and construction-style safety vests, arguing that their appearance made it difficult for residents to identify them as federal immigration agents. Mamdani said he contacted President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to seek the man’s release, but the discussions were unsuccessful.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also called for answers from federal authorities, saying residents were outraged and immigrant communities were fearful. The New York Police Department said it was not involved in the federal operation but responded after the shooting. Police later confirmed that the child had been located with a family member.

The incident prompted demonstrations at the scene, where protesters demanded that ICE leave New York City. Some demonstrators later marched towards the hospital where Belgal was being treated, and confrontations with police occurred as officers established barricades. Authorities reported some arrests during the unrest.

DHS defended the operation and blamed what it described as sanctuary policies in Democrat-led jurisdictions, arguing that federal officers face unpredictable and dangerous conditions when attempting arrests. The agency’s position drew criticism from local officials, who questioned the tactics used and called for greater transparency.

The shooting has renewed attention to the use of force during immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration. Reuters reported that ICE agents had fired their weapons during multiple vehicle stops since Trump returned to office, with incidents resulting in deaths and injuries. In late September, the agency issued instructions restricting high-speed vehicle pursuits and requiring specific training before officers conduct certain vehicle stops.

Questions remain about the precise sequence of events that led to the shooting and the justification for the use of force. The incident is likely to intensify debate over federal immigration enforcement, public safety and the relationship between national authorities and local officials in New York.