ICE Shooting in Marble Hill Sparks NYC Enforcement Dispute

A federal immigration agent shot and wounded 28-year-old Oscar Belgal during an enforcement operation in Marble Hill, New York City, leaving his 5-year-old child unharmed and triggering protests over ICE tactics and the agency’s continued operations.

According to Democracy Now!, the shooting happened after ICE agents attempted to arrest Belgal in northern Manhattan. Seven shots were heard shortly after 4 p.m. as residents and families were nearby, and Belgal was taken to a local hospital before being placed in federal custody.

New York City officials said the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained under review. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he spoke with President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for two hours while seeking Belgal’s release, but the effort was unsuccessful.

"Thank God, that child is physically unharmed," said Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor.

Mamdani criticized the operation and said city officials would continue challenging ICE enforcement practices in New York. His comments came as protesters gathered in Foley Square and near Marble Hill.

"What happened today was an outrage," said Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor.

"I stand here not just as the mayor of our city, but as someone who is proud to be an immigrant in our city," said Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor.

"We will not normalize ICE’s viciousness. We will not accept its cruelty. We know, and I have said this directly, whether to the president or to the public, ICE undermines public safety.

It makes us less safe. New York City will not stand by while ICE agents shoot New Yorkers, and we will not back down from the demand that so many, including myself, have put forward time and again. This is an agency that must be abolished," said Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor.

Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic congressional candidate from Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, attended the protests and criticized the federal response. She also said she was knocked to the ground during an encounter with NYPD’s Strategic Response Group.

"What we saw yesterday was a prime example of why [ICE] is a terror to our communities, why it should not exist," said Darializa Avila Chevalier, Democratic congressional candidate.

Avila Chevalier said protesters were also demanding changes to NYPD protest policing after the demonstrations. She described the police response as part of a broader dispute over enforcement actions.

"This is why we also must demand that we get rid of and disband the SRG, because this type of response should have never happened for folks who were just simply trying to protect their neighbor," said Darializa Avila Chevalier, Democratic congressional candidate.

Carmen De La Rosa, the New York City councilmember representing Marble Hill, Inwood and Washington Heights, said she witnessed confrontations between protesters and police after the shooting.

"I personally witnessed NYPD escalating aggressively towards our community, barricading the community in … I also witnessed NYPD helping the ICE vehicles whisk away our neighbors and come in and out of the hospital," said Carmen De La Rosa, New York City councilmember.

De La Rosa said the incident increased concerns among residents about the presence of federal immigration enforcement in the city.

"We have become less safe with the presence of ICE, and we need to make sure that we are actually upholding the sanctuary policies of the city. There is no reason why NYPD should be collaborating this way," said Carmen De La Rosa, New York City councilmember.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended continued enforcement after the shooting. NBC News reported Mullin said the department would not halt operations following criticism from New York officials.

"In fact, I’m not sorry. Our job is to enforce the nation's laws and go after the worst of the worst, and our men and women do a dang good job at it every single day, and we will not stop doing our job," said Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security secretary.