New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani demanded that President Donald Trump end all ICE enforcement in the state after a federal agent shot an illegal immigrant in the Bronx on Thursday, sparking protests and confrontations with law enforcement.
At a news conference late Thursday night, Mamdani condemned the shooting and said he spoke with Trump for about two hours following the incident.
Mamdani said he urged Trump to have the man released – an effort that was unsuccessful – and said New York City wants ICE agents out.
“All they do is terrorize this city,” the mayor said of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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Mamdani also accused ICE of acting “with impunity” and spreading “chaos and terror” across the country, alleging that ICE has killed more people than it has saved.
“Today’s shooting is only further devastating confirmation of what we have long known,” the mayor said.
“ICE is rotten to its core,” he added.
Mamdani also confirmed that the man who was shot has been transported out of the hospital by ICE agents.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also said she spoke to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
“Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin about the shooting in Marble Hill,” she said on X. “I expressed outrage on behalf of New Yorkers and urged them to halt ICE enforcement operations in New York. I also asked that any body camera footage of the shooting be released to the public so we can establish the facts and get to the truth.”
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ICE was attempting to arrest a wanted man from the Dominican Republic at around 4 p.m. on Thursday when an agent opened fire and wounded him, according to DHS, which did not provide details on what led to the shooting.
“ICE officers immediately rendered aid. The individual is alive and at a local hospital. The FBI and HSI are on the scene. The incident remains under investigation. More information will be shared as it becomes available,” DHS said in a statement.
DHS said the man, who was described as an illegal immigrant, had a prior grand larceny conviction and previous arrests involving assault, robbery, drug possession and weapons possession. The agency also alleged that he had ties to the Trinitarios gang.
Later Thursday night, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the man as a 28-year-old and said a 5-year-old boy believed to be his son was inside the vehicle with him during the shooting.
“Based on evidence collected at the scene, we know that at least one ICE agent discharged the seven rounds, striking the driver in the neck below his left ear,” Tisch said, adding that the boy was not injured and is in the care of a family member.
The agency said the man was arrested by New York City police on Dec. 7, 2023, but was released several days later. DHS blamed New York City’s sanctuary policies for his release.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where the wounded man was being treated, and chanting “ICE off our streets” and “No justice, no peace.” Protesters and police were seen shoving one another during the demonstration as officers began to set barricades, and some demonstrators threw water bottles at the officers.
“From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go,” the group chanted.
Police made some arrests during the demonstration.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
