Protests in New York after ICE agent shoots Dominican man during operation

New York.- Protests erupted in New York City on Thursday night after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot a Dominican man during an immigration operation in Manhattan, sparking calls for accountability from local leaders.

Demonstrators gathered near the shooting scene in Marble Hill before marching to NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where the man was taken for treatment. Some protesters blocked an intersection outside the hospital, carrying signs reading “ICE OUT” and denouncing the federal agency’s actions.

The New York Police Department said the injured Dominican man was conscious and receiving medical care. Police also clarified that their officers were not involved in the shooting and were not present when it occurred.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the man was inside a vehicle with his five-year-old child in the back seat when he was shot. The child suffered no physical injuries.

Democratic Congressman Adriano Espaillat expressed concern over the shooting and went to the hospital seeking to visit the victim. He said the incident had left the man’s family and the child shocked.

Mamdani condemned ICE’s actions, saying he would not stand by while federal agents “terrorize our communities.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul also demanded answers from federal authorities, expressing concern about the danger the incident posed to the child.

The Department of Homeland Security defended the operation, stating that ICE agents were attempting to arrest the man. The agency described him as an undocumented immigrant with a prior grand theft conviction and previous arrests for alleged offenses including assault, robbery, and drug and weapons possession.