Tension in New York: Justice demanded after ICE agent shooting of Dominican man
A crowd gathered this Friday in the streets of Lower Manhattan to express their opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the incident in the Bronx where a federal agent shot and wounded a Dominican citizen. The event, which has sparked a wave of outrage, occurred while the victim, identified as Oscar Belgal, was in his vehicle accompanied by his five-year-old son.
The protesters, accompanied by representatives of civil rights organizations, marched peacefully demanding an independent investigation by the New York Attorney General’s Office. The main objective of the organizers is for criminal charges to be brought against the officer involved in the shooting.
Versions found regarding the operation
The incident took place in the Marble Hill sector, when immigration agents intercepted 28-year-old Belgal. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Dominican national is allegedly linked to the Los Trinitarios gang and, during the intervention, reportedly attempted to ram the officers with his vehicle, which triggered the use of lethal force. For its part, the legal defense for the affected party, led by attorney Paige Austin, maintains that Belgal still suffers from physical aftereffects, stating that he still has a projectile lodged in his body.
Many families are afraid to carry out daily activities, such as going to their jobs or taking their children to school, so we ask that what happened be clarified in a transparent manner.
Fabián Arias, priest and activist.
Judicial measures and political reactions
On the legal front, federal judge Paul Oetken has intervened by ordering a temporary stay of Belgal’s deportation while an emergency request for his release is evaluated. Currently, the young man remains in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The case has escalated to a political level. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the actions of immigration agents during a rally in Syracuse, describing the officers’ work as necessary given the alleged dangerousness of the detainee. In contrast, local authorities such as Governor Kathy Hochul have focused on the well-being of the minor, who, despite being under his mother’s care, is showing signs of severe trauma after witnessing the attack.
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) continues to push for the release of recordings of the incident and to ensure the safety of residents in the face of future operations by federal agencies in the city.
