US immigration officials address ICE shooting incident involving child

US immigration officials defended officers involved in a shooting incident in New York on Thursday, where a man was shot while his five-year-old son was in the back seat of the car. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Markwayne Mullin stated that the officers opened fire while attempting to arrest Oscar Belgal, who has a criminal history. Mullin claimed that the officers were unaware of the child’s presence in the vehicle and asserted that Belgal endangered his son by placing him in the car. Belgal is currently being held at a detention facility, and his attorneys attended a hearing on his behalf on Friday. Attorney Harold Solis reported that Belgal's first concern was for his son's well-being. Another attorney, Paige Austin, informed the judge that Belgal still has a bullet lodged in his body and was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after being released from the hospital. The BBC has reached out to DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for confirmation of Belgal's medical condition. The shooting occurred in the Marble Hill neighborhood. Marcos Charles, a senior ICE official, explained that officers attempted to stop Belgal's vehicle, but he resisted and accelerated, colliding with two ICE vehicles. Charles stated that Belgal then drove towards other officers, prompting them to fire their weapons in self-defense. The investigation is ongoing regarding the number of officers who discharged their firearms. Charles noted that Belgal was superficially injured in the neck. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the incident as "unconscionable and incredibly serious," highlighting that ICE agents were not easily identifiable due to their construction vests and masks. He confirmed that the child was unharmed. Mullin stated that the officers had identified themselves and were wearing body cameras during the incident, although video footage has not been publicly released. Body-worn camera footage from the New York Police Department (NYPD) shows officers arriving at the scene and assisting Belgal after he was shot. Mamdani reported that he had discussions with US President Donald Trump and Mullin regarding Belgal's situation but was unable to secure his release. Mamdani plans to request that Trump end ICE enforcement actions in New York, while Mullin has indicated that enforcement will continue. The DHS reported that Belgal, 28, is from the Dominican Republic and has a prior conviction for grand larceny, along with multiple arrests for various offenses. Belgal was arrested in December 2023 and released shortly thereafter. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that there is an ongoing case against Belgal for criminal sale of a controlled substance in 2025. The DHS has also alleged that Belgal is associated with the Trinitarios, a group identified by the US Justice Department as a transnational criminal organization. Mullin stated that the DHS believes Belgal may have knowledge related to a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer shooting, which contributed to him being targeted. Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the incident, calling for prompt answers from federal officials and expressing concern over violence by ICE agents. This incident follows several high-profile shootings involving ICE officers this year, including a fatal incident in Minneapolis in January.