🔗 Share this article

New York state attorney general has rolled out a fresh digital platform asking residents to submit photos and videos of immigration raids around New York. This step follows a shortly after a major immigration operation rattled Chinatown in Manhattan, prompting large-scale demonstrations.

US Citizens Detained During Raid

A congressional representative disclosed during a news conference that four American citizens were taken into custody and kept for "almost a full day" after the previous day's operation. Protests occurred in the city on consecutive evenings.

"Every New Yorker has the right to reside free from terror," state officials wrote in a statement.

"For those who saw and documented federal operations yesterday, I encourage you to provide that footage with my office. We are dedicated to assessing these submissions and investigating any legal breaches."

Form Details

The form includes options to submit visual evidence of the raid, plus a field to specify where it occurred. When submitting, individuals must mark a box that confirms that "the office might employ any materials, images, or footage in a legal proceeding, such as in a legal proceeding or public report."

Information about the ICE Action

The Manhattan operation, which witnesses say featured over fifty federal agents, happened in a well-known neighborhood of NYC where fake purses, items, goods and merchandise are sold daily widely – frequently to sightseers.

Videos of the incident reveal multiple masked and armed personnel zip-tying and detaining a person, and forcing aside bystanders. Throngs of residents followed the officers through the streets. An armored truck was noticed traveling down the urban roads.

Political Response

In a Wednesday press conference held with the rights organization, the congressman, a Democrat, announced that four US citizens were taken by federal agents for about 24 hours and that there were "no circumstances where US citizens should be arrested for unjustly." He noted the persons were let go on Wednesday with no legal action taken.

"The intent is obvious here. It is not to take criminals off the street," the congressman said. "This represents a militarized effort to create conflict. It is purely a justification to incite violence for federal officials to bring in the armed forces to halt violence that they initiated."

Broad Criticism

Anger over the ICE raid quickly spread – all three NYC mayor hopefuls criticized the raid, along with NY's governor.

"Yet again, the Trump administration selects oppressive displays that create fear, not safety. It has to end," one mayoral candidate wrote.

New York City advocacy organizations voiced concern as well.

"ICE raided the neighborhood with tactical trucks, masked agents and tactical gear to target small merchants trying to make a living. This raid had no connection to citizen protection and focused completely on terrorizing immigrant families and communities," remarked the leader of a rights organization.

Agency Rules

Agency rules prohibits the holding of citizens and the bureau has said it refrains from arrest or detain American nationals. However, investigative journalism has found that over 170 citizens have been held against their will by immigration authorities during the period of the current administration.

Recent Pattern

Immigration operations have been cropping up increasingly in the state and nationwide lately.

An October operation in central NYC was the first known raid on an housing center of the present government. Demonstrations opposing ICE are widespread as are allegations of violence and abusive practices.

Recently, a letter submitted by civil rights groups stated healthcare failures of expectant mothers in government custody.