An individual was shot reportedly by an ICE agent during an operation in the Marble Hill area between the Bronx and Manhattan in New York City on Thursday afternoon.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) said after the incident that federal immigration officers carrying out Enforcement and Removal Operations fired shots at an individual they were targeting. The individual is being treated at a local hospital and his conscious with non-life-threatening injuries.
There was a massive law enforcement presence in the Marble Hill neighborhood as the police response continues.
“The NYPD was not involved in the incident and was not on scene at the time of the shooting,” the NYPD said in an update shared on social media. “The individual who was shot is at a nearby hospital and is currently conscious and receiving medical attention.”
As of now, it is unclear why the ICE agents were targeting the individual. A photo shared by CNN showed that the bullet was fired through the windshield of the individual’s car.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted to X Thursday, saying she expects “federal authorities to provide a full and transparent accounting of the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
The Department of Homeland Security has not reacted to the incident as of this writing.
“This incident is another reminder of the unchecked, rampant violence ICE has been spreading throughout our communities,” said Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition.
“We demand an immediate investigation into the shooting, the release of the body camera footage, and accountability for any ICE agents who used excessive force.”
ICE has been involved in several high-profile shootings this year, including the killing of two US citizens in Minneapolis, which sparked angry protests.
New York, a Democratic stronghold, is one of several US cities that bars its police force from assisting with federal immigration enforcement.
(with inputs from AFP)