by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and wounded an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic during a targeted enforcement operation in New York City on Thursday, sparking protests and renewed controversy over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. near West 225th Street and Marble Hill Avenue, where federal agents were attempting to apprehend a man with a criminal history and alleged connections to the notorious Trinitarios gang.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the suspect had previously been convicted of grand larceny and arrested multiple times on charges involving assault, robbery, drugs, and weapons possession.
Federal officials said the individual had been arrested by the New York Police Department in December 2023 but was subsequently released, a decision DHS blamed on the city’s sanctuary policies.
During Thursday’s operation, an ICE officer discharged his firearm, striking the suspect. Federal agents immediately provided medical assistance before the wounded man was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening.
Child Reportedly Inside Vehicle During Shooting
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said preliminary reports indicated that a five-year-old child was inside the suspect’s vehicle when federal agents opened fire. The child was reportedly unharmed.
Mamdani condemned the incident and said he intended to demand that President Trump end ICE enforcement operations throughout New York City.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also demanded a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The NYPD confirmed that its officers were neither involved in the shooting nor present when it occurred. The FBI dispatched an evidence response team to assist federal investigators.
The shooting triggered demonstrations in Marble Hill, with protesters later gathering outside the hospital where the suspect was receiving treatment. Some demonstrators clashed with police as officers attempted to maintain access for emergency vehicles.
Sanctuary Policies Under Renewed Scrutiny
DHS defended its immigration enforcement efforts, arguing that sanctuary jurisdictions make arrests more dangerous by limiting cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration officers.
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized sanctuary-city policies, maintaining that releasing criminal offenders into communities rather than transferring them to federal immigration custody creates unnecessary public safety risks.
However, investigators have not yet publicly established what prompted the ICE officer to fire his weapon, leaving critical questions about the confrontation unanswered.
The incident remains under federal investigation.
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