Washington, Oct 9, 2026 20:22 IST
US federal immigration officers shot a Dominican man in New York during an attempted arrest after he reportedly drove his car into officers' vehicles, leading agents to believe their lives were in danger, according to a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official on Friday.
The individual was identified by New York City police as 28-year-old Oscar Belgal. ICE official Marcos Charles stated that Belgal sustained a superficial gunshot wound to the neck. Authorities also confirmed that a five-year-old boy was inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Charles explained that officers utilized their vehicles to block Belgal as he attempted to drive away, but he accelerated toward them instead. During a news conference in Washington alongside US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Charles said that officers acted on their training because they believed their lives, the lives of their partners, and the general public were in danger. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the briefing was convened to address the dangerous consequences of sanctuary city policies.
Mullin noted that ICE agents were unaware the child was in the car, alleging that Belgal was aware of the child's presence and deliberately put the boy at risk to evade law enforcement. Charles added that ICE had previously issued a detainer for Belgal, describing him as connected to a gang known for armed and moped-related thefts.
Late Thursday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, stated they had unsuccessfully pressured Mullin and Republican President Donald Trump to release Belgal. They also demanded the immediate release of body camera footage and an end to immigration enforcement operations within the city. Mullin reported that Belgal is currently held at a facility outside New York City, though he declined to specify the location. He confirmed that the ICE officers involved were wearing active body cameras, but did not specify when the footage would be made public.
Local officials and protesters condemned the shooting as an illustration of the risks posed by the administration's immigration crackdown. Mayor Mamdani criticized the operation at the scene on Thursday, pointing out that the federal officers surrounding the vehicle wore construction vests and masks, complicating efforts to identify them as law enforcement. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Belgal was pulling into a parking space when a plainclothes federal officer approached with a drawn weapon, followed by another ununiformed officer. Tisch added that Belgal then moved the car forward, prompting at least one officer to discharge seven rounds, striking Belgal below his left ear.
Much of Mullin's commentary on Friday focused on Mayor Mamdani and local immigration stances. He argued that sanctuary politicians foster environments where criminal activity thrives rather than keeping American citizens safe. Mullin stated that ICE has requested local authorities in New York to hold more than 14,000 individuals for federal pickup and detention, noting that they received absolute silence in response. He questioned why local officials would release such individuals back onto the streets, emphasizing that federal authorities are enforcing national laws without picking and choosing. Mullin also dismissed the intense scrutiny surrounding the case, characterizing Belgal as a dangerous criminal.
The shooting has escalated into a broader political conflict, with federal officials defending the use of force as a necessary response to a threat, while New York leaders push for Belgal's release, the disclosure of body camera footage, and a halt to local immigration operations as Belgal remains in federal custody.