Mamdani Condemns ICE Tactics After Marble Hill Shooting, Demands Agency Removal
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for shooting Oscar Belgal in Marble Hill, comparing the plainclothes agents to mass shooters. Belgal, 28, was wounded in the neck while his five-year-old son was in the vehicle. The incident sparked protests and a legal battle over Belgal's detention in Brooklyn, where lawyers cite deplorable conditions. Mamdani called for ICE to end operations in New York City, while federal authorities defended the shooting as a response to a weaponized vehicle.
Key points
- Mayor Mamdani stated that ICE agents in plainclothes with long guns resembled mass shooters, not law enforcement, during the Oct. 8 shooting in Marble Hill.
- Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old Dominican immigrant, was shot in the neck while his five-year-old son was in the car; the child was unharmed.
- Belgal is detained in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where lawyers describe conditions as deplorable and note he urgently needs surgery for the lodged bullet.
- Mamdani spoke with President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin but failed to secure Belgal's release, reiterating his demand for ICE to leave New York City.
- Federal authorities claim Belgal weaponized his vehicle, while local officials and the Bronx District Attorney are investigating the incident.
Background
This incident follows a pattern of ICE enforcement actions in New York City, including a 2025 raid on Canal Street and a recent shooting in Fresno, California. Since Trump's return to office in early 2025, ICE has shot at least two dozen people, including three US citizens. The agency has shifted from high-profile raids to quieter community deployments, reaching record arrest levels.
How outlets are covering it
The Guardian and Gothamist highlight Mamdani's criticism of ICE's plainclothes tactics, describing them as indistinguishable from mass shooters. Newsday focuses on the detention conditions, with lawyers calling the Brooklyn jail environment deplorable and noting Belgal's urgent need for surgery. amNewYork provides visual context, noting the same agent was seen in a 2025 Canal Street raid. Federal authorities, per the Guardian and amNewYork, defend the shooting as a response to a weaponized vehicle and cite Belgal's criminal history and alleged gang ties, contrasting with local officials' condemnation.
Why it matters
The shooting underscores tensions between local and federal authorities over immigration enforcement in New York City. It highlights concerns about ICE tactics, detention conditions, and the potential for violence in public spaces, influencing political debates and public safety policies.
What to watch
Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch will review the 24-hour period following the shooting, including ICE's conduct and NYPD's response. Legal efforts continue to prevent Belgal's deportation, while the Bronx District Attorney investigates the incident. Mamdani plans further negotiations with the Trump administration to secure Belgal's release.
- Mamdani says ICE agents who shot man in New York looked like ‘mass shooters’ The Guardian
- Judge blocks deportation of Oscar Belgal after ICE shooting ABC7 New York
- Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says Gothamist
- Man shot by ICE agents held in Brooklyn amid 'deplorable conditions,' lawyers say Newsday
- Mamdani: ICE agent looked like ‘mass shooter’ in Marble Hill traffic stop amNewYork
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on The Guardian