DHS Says ICE Agents Did Not Know Child Was in Bronx SUV

Federal immigration agents shot Oscar Belgal in the neck during an enforcement operation in the Marble Hill section of the Bronx on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, while attempting to arrest him, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Friday that the agents did not know Belgal's five-year-old son was in the back seat of the vehicle.

Belgal survived the shooting and received treatment at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Allen before federal authorities transferred him to a detention facility outside New York State, Mullin said. The child was unharmed and was handed over to an aunt who lived on the same block, according to the aunt. The boy's mother subsequently took him to a hospital for evaluation.

Federal officials said the agents attempted to stop Belgal, who was driving a silver Honda Accord, by positioning their vehicles around his car. According to DHS Associate Director Marcos Charles, Belgal accelerated toward the officers and struck two of their vehicles.

Mullin described the agents' lack of awareness of the child as a central detail of the encounter.

"not aware" was how the agents' knowledge of the child's presence was characterized by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Mullin said the agency considered Belgal's actions a threat to the officers.

"weaponized his vehicle" was the description DHS officials used for Belgal's alleged actions during the attempted arrest.

Charles explained the agents' decision to fire during the confrontation.

"Believing that their life and the lives of their partners were in danger, they used their training and fired weapons," Charles said.

Mullin separately acknowledged that officers did not know a child was in the vehicle, while arguing that Belgal knew his son was present.

"We weren't aware the child was in the car," Mullin said.

He then shifted responsibility toward Belgal, the target of the enforcement operation.

"But do you know who was aware? Oscar. Oscar knew he had a child in his car," Mullin said.

The homeland security secretary also criticized Belgal in strongly worded remarks.

"The public outcry should be towards this criminal, this thug, this gangbanger, this possible murderer," Mullin said.

DHS said Belgal, an undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic, had been under investigation because of his association with the Trinitarios street gang and possible involvement in the 2024 shooting of a Customs and Border Protection agent. The department did not provide additional details about the alleged connection during the statements described in the report.

According to DHS, Belgal had previously been arrested twice in New York on allegations involving robbery and drug sales. Officials said he was convicted of grand larceny in the robbery case, while the drug sales charges remained pending in court.

ICE had also attempted to apprehend Belgal the previous year, but he fled, according to the agency. Following his grand larceny conviction, ICE filed a detainer seeking to have him held for immigration enforcement.

Mullin cited the detainer and Belgal's probation status when criticizing local officials and policies governing cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

"We had a detainer on him, and he was on probation," Mullin said.

He argued that local policies had allowed Belgal to remain in the community despite his immigration status and legal history.

"Sanctuary politicians create an environment for criminal activity to thrive, not to make the American citizens safe," Mullin said.

The shooting occurred during a federal operation in the Bronx and prompted public criticism over the use of force in an incident involving a child. DHS officials maintained that the agents fired because they believed the vehicle posed an immediate danger to them.