An Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in New York City’s Marble Hill neighborhood Thursday afternoon resulted in the shooting of a 28-year-old illegal immigrant with a criminal history, prompting protests across the city on Friday.

Federal officials identified the man as Oscar Belgal, a Dominican national targeted for arrest due to prior convictions including grand larceny and arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession, and weapons violations, along with alleged ties to the Trinitarios gang. Department of Homeland Security statements noted that agents approached his vehicle after he refused lawful orders to exit. Belgal then accelerated and struck two ICE vehicles, according to senior ICE official Marcos Charles. At least one agent fired seven rounds, striking Belgal in the neck below his left ear. A five-year-old boy believed to be his son was in the vehicle but remained physically unharmed.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the details from scene evidence and body camera footage, noting Belgal was conscious when taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in stable condition. ICE officers rendered aid immediately, and the FBI along with Homeland Security Investigations opened a review of the incident.

Protests erupted Thursday evening near the scene and continued Friday with more than 1,000 demonstrators gathering in Foley Square near ICE headquarters. Organizers from groups including Hands Off NYC and the New York Immigration Coalition called for the agency’s removal from the city and chanted against enforcement actions. Some signs read “Abolish ICE” and “Jail all killer ICE agents.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the operation, spoke with President Trump, and demanded a halt to all ICE enforcement in the city along with the man’s release. The Trump administration rebuffed those requests. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the agents’ actions and criticized sanctuary policies that he said allow criminal illegal immigrants to remain on the streets. “Mayor, if you abolish ICE, who's going to take criminals off the streets of your own town?” Mullin stated.

The shooting marks the latest flashpoint in ongoing immigration enforcement under the current administration. Federal authorities have conducted targeted operations against individuals with criminal records amid New York’s sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with ICE. Body camera footage released Friday by the NYPD showed agents in plain clothes identifying themselves before the confrontation escalated.

Investigations continue into the precise sequence of events, with additional video expected in coming days. The child is now in the care of family members.