New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday demanded a federal probe into ICE's shooting of Dominican migrant Oscar Belgal in the Bronx, calling the agency a "terrorist organization" and insisting it leave the city.
Belgal, 28, was shot in the neck while riding in a moving vehicle with his five‑year‑old son. The attack came after a confrontation with ICE agents, who fired at the car in broad daylight, according to police reports.
Mamdani said the incident left the child traumatized and the victim in pain, and he compared the agents' conduct to that of a mass shooter. "It feels like a mass shooter," he told MS Now.
The mayor has repeatedly called for ICE to be abolished, describing it as "rotten to its core." He has also lobbied the Trump administration, speaking with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, but the talks ended without an agreement.
Police officials said the NYPD did not fire at the vehicle, citing a different approach to crowd control. The incident has reignited a long‑standing dispute over federal immigration enforcement in New York City, with a coalition of local officials and community groups demanding the end of ICE operations.
A federal review is expected to begin next week, and Mamdani has filed a formal complaint with the Department of Homeland Security. The city will continue to push for the agency's removal.
For the 28‑year‑old, the incident is a tragic reminder of the risks migrants face in the streets. His 5‑year‑old son has been taken to a local hospital for observation.