US immigration officials defend ICE agents who shot man while his child was in the car
US immigration officials are defending ICE agents who shot and wounded a man during an arrest attempt in New York. The incident occurred while the suspect's five-year-old son was in the car, sparking criticism from local officials regarding the agents' tactics and identification.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement tactics in residential areas and the safety risks posed to bystanders during high-stakes operations.
Image source, New York Police Department Image caption, Footage from a NYPD officer's body cam shows the scene after Oscar Belgal was shot by ICE agents
US immigration officials have defended the actions of officers who shot and wounded a man in his car in New York on Thursday while his five-year-old son was in the back seat.
Markwayne Mullin, the head of homeland security (DHS), which runs the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said officers fired their weapons while trying to arrest a man with a criminal history.
"We weren't aware the child was in the car," Mullin added at a press conference on Friday, arguing that it was the man, Oscar Belgal, who had put his child in danger. Belgal is now being held at a detention facility.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called what happened "unconscionable and incredibly serious".
Also covering this story
7 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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