A federal immigration officer shot a Dominican man named Oscar Belgal in the neck as he drove with a 5-year-old boy. This incident occurred during a ‘targeted enforcement operation’ by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Belgal survived the shooting and received medical treatment at a hospital.
City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the event. Belgal was parking his car when a plainclothes federal officer approached with a weapon drawn. Another plainclothes officer followed. Belgal moved the car forward, prompting at least one officer to fire seven times. Officers hit Belgal below his left ear. The child in the car was not harmed.
DHS stated they aimed to arrest what they called a ‘criminal illegal alien’ with a grand larceny conviction. However, Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized the shooting as unjustified. He mentioned that officers wore construction vests and masks, making them hard to identify as ICE agents.
The mayor publicly pressed President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to release Belgal and cease these operations in New York City. Despite their requests, federal authorities removed Belgal from the hospital later that night. Governor Kathy Hochul reiterated demands for action during a call with federal officials.
Aftermath and Evidence
The gunfire took place at around 4 p.m. in Marble Hill, part of Manhattan. An NYPD security camera recorded events but not the shooting itself. Witness Pedro Almaraz, a nearby restaurant employee, heard shots and saw a man on the ground surrounded by officers with face masks and DHS vests.
Bystanders recorded videos showing Belgal sitting with his hands behind his back after the shooting. Another video showed NYPD officers carrying him into a police vehicle. His car had bullet damage.
Protests and Political Reactions
A heated press conference followed, with local politicians condemning the shooting. City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa expressed sadness and anger, while others criticized ICE and Trump.
Demonstrators chanted for ICE to leave city streets and marched to the hospital. A sizable crowd blocked a hospital intersection. Tensions rose as police set up barricades, leading to some arrests.
Homeland Security’s Statement
DHS argued its officers faced ‘unpredictable and dangerous environments’ due to ‘reckless sanctuary policies’ that led to the release of ‘dangerous illegal aliens.’ The agency criticized these Democrat-led policies for forcing arrests in public settings.
Belgal had a criminal record, pleading guilty to grand larceny in 2023 and facing unresolved drug-sale charges. ICE recorded multiple officer-involved shootings since last year, prompting new guidance against high-speed chases and stricter traffic stop rules.
Resident Alfred Silva called for clearer identification of officers. He sought transparency to prevent confusion and violence.