US immigration officials defend ICE agents who shot man in same car as child
Oscar Belgal, the 28-year-old man, survived the shooting and is now being held at a detention facility outside of New York, officials said.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot a 28-year-old man, Oscar Belgal, in New York on Thursday while his five-year-old son was in the backseat of his car. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the officers' actions, stating they were trying to arrest Belgal for his criminal history. However, ICE officials later admitted they were unaware the child was present.
Belgal, who was from the Dominican Republic and had a prior criminal conviction, was detained at a facility. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the incident "unconscionable and incredibly serious," noting that ICE agents' faces were concealed by construction vests and masks, making it impossible to identify them. The child was not harmed.
The incident occurred in Marble Hill, a residential neighborhood. ICE officials claim Belgal resisted orders to exit his vehicle and accelerated towards officers, who fired in self-defense. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed there was a pending criminal case against Belgal related to a 2025 controlled substance sale.
The city's police commissioner and Governor Kathy Hochul have criticized the incident, calling for swift answers from federal officials.
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