New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a news conference Thursday night to condemn a shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent that left an illegal immigrant wounded in the Bronx. Mamdani said he spoke with President Trump for about two hours after the incident and urged the President to release the man and halt all ICE enforcement in the city.
Mayor’s demands and local response
“All they do is terrorize this city,” Mamdani said, describing ICE’s presence as a source of chaos and terror. He accused the agency of operating “with impunity” and claimed ICE has killed more people than it has saved. The mayor added that the shooting confirmed long‑standing concerns about ICE’s tactics.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside NewYork‑Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where the injured man was being treated, chanting “ICE off our streets” and “No justice, no peace.” Police reported several arrests as the crowd clashed with officers and some water bottles were thrown.
Details of the incident
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE agents were attempting to arrest a wanted individual from the Dominican Republic around 4 p.m. on Thursday when an agent opened fire, striking the driver in the neck below his left ear. The man, identified by New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as a 28‑year‑old, was taken to a local hospital and remains alive. A five‑year‑old boy, believed to be his son, was in the vehicle but was not injured.
DHS said the man has a prior grand larceny conviction and previous arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession and weapons possession, and that he is alleged to have ties to the Trinitarios gang. The agency also noted that the individual was previously arrested by NYPD on Dec. 7, 2023, and released several days later, attributing his release to New York’s sanctuary policies.
Federal response
DHS released a statement saying ICE officers rendered aid immediately, that the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are on the scene, and that the incident remains under investigation. The agency promised to share more information as it becomes available.
Governor Kathy Hochul also said she spoke with President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, expressing outrage on behalf of New Yorkers and urging a halt to ICE operations in the state. Hochul requested that any body‑camera footage of the shooting be released to the public to “establish the facts and get to the truth.”
Administration’s stance
President Trump’s administration has emphasized the importance of law‑enforcement safety and the need for a thorough investigation before drawing conclusions. In a statement, the White House reiterated its commitment to supporting ICE agents who act within the bounds of the law and pledged full cooperation with local authorities to ensure transparency.
While the mayor’s call for an immediate end to ICE activity reflects growing local frustration, the Trump administration maintains that any policy changes will be based on factual findings from the ongoing investigation.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
