Protests in New York as Trump administration defends ICE shooting

Protesters gathered in New York on Friday in response to the shooting of a Dominican man by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The incident occurred in the Bronx on Thursday when 28-year-old Oscar Bergal was wounded in the neck during an ICE operation. A five-year-old child in Bergal's car was physically unharmed.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani strongly criticized the shooting, tweeting "Abolish ICE" and writing that the administration's words were "dangerous and incite hostility." Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin responded by accusing Mamdani of being irresponsible, questioning who would take criminals off the streets if ICE was abolished.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Manhattan on Friday, chanting "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here" and "No ICE." This Democratic stronghold city has banned police assistance with federal immigration enforcement in several occasions. Mayor Mamdani sought to speak with President Trump and demanded the withdrawal of immigration agents from the city.

Video footage of the shooting shows a plainclothes federal agent approaching a silver car with a gun drawn, reversing, punching the driver-side window, and then an officer firing at the driver as the car drives away, apparently colliding with another vehicle.

ICE officials stated that Bergal had a history of criminal activity and was attempting to evade arrest. They also claimed that the officers were unaware of the presence of a child in the car when they opened fire. A senior ICE official, Marcos Charles, reported that Bergal had refused lawful orders to exit his vehicle, accelerated towards ICE vehicles, and attempted to endanger officers before being shot.

The incident could potentially test the relationship between the mayor and the Trump administration, which has been relatively warm.