Protests erupted in New York City following the shooting of a Dominican man by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during an operation in the Bronx. Oscar Bergal, 28, was injured in the neck on Thursday while his five-year-old son, who was in the car at the time, was unharmed. The incident has intensified tensions between the city’s Democratic leadership and the Trump administration.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded swiftly to the shooting, posting “Abolish ICE” on social media, echoing a broader left-wing movement opposed to the federal agency’s immigration enforcement policies. Mamdani, representing a city that restricts local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities, indicated he intended to seek a conversation with then-President Donald Trump regarding the incident and expressed intentions to request the withdrawal of immigration agents from the city.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized the mayor’s remarks, describing them as “dangerous” and accusing Mamdani of inciting hostility. Mullin defended ICE’s actions, stating that Bergal had a significant criminal record and was attempting to evade arrest during the incident. According to Mullin, ICE officers were unaware that a child was present in the vehicle when they opened fire.
Senior ICE official Marcos Charles provided additional details, saying Bergal ignored lawful commands to exit his vehicle before accelerating and colliding with government vehicles. Charles described the man’s actions as “weaponizing” his car in a manner that endangered officers, prompting officials to discharge their firearms in self-defense.
Footage circulated by U.S. media shows what appears to be a plainclothes federal agent approaching Bergal’s car with a gun drawn, followed by a second officer who fires as the vehicle moves off-screen and strikes another vehicle.
The shooting has drawn hundreds of demonstrators to the streets of Manhattan, with chants calling for immigrant rights and the abolition of ICE. Protesters spanned several blocks and voiced opposition to federal immigration enforcement policies. New York City remains a prominent Democratic stronghold and one of several U.S. cities that limits police collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
This incident has underscored the ongoing friction between local governments seeking to protect immigrant communities and federal agencies pursuing immigration enforcement, illustrating the complex challenges in balancing public safety with civil rights and political sensitivities.