Mamdani demands Trump halt ICE operations after Bronx shooting
A 28-year-old man was shot in the neck during a federal operation in Marble Hill, sparking clashes outside a hospital and a high-level political dispute.
What happened in the Bronx
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and seriously wounded a 28-year-old undocumented immigrant in his car in the Bronx on Thursday, sparking running clashes between police and protesters and a fierce political standoff.
The driver was shot in the neck, below his left ear, while his five-year-old son sat beside him in the vehicle, according to New York City officials. The child was physically unharmed.
The shooting, which occurred around 4:00 pm in the Marble Hill neighbourhood, has triggered furious protests outside the hospital where the man was treated, and led New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul to demand an immediate halt to ICE operations in the state.
Mayor Mamdani, who described the agency as "rotten to its core", said he spent two hours on the phone with President Donald Trump on Thursday night pleading for the man's release, though his appeal was rejected. ICE agents have since transferred the wounded man from the hospital into federal custody.
Who is involved
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the shooting as part of a "targeted enforcement operation" to detain a "criminal illegal alien" from the Dominican Republic. According to federal officials, the suspect has a prior conviction for grand larceny and multiple arrests for assault, robbery, weapons possession, and drug offences. DHS also claimed he is associated with the Trinitarios, a transnational street gang.
Local officials, however, focused on the violence of the encounter and the risk to the child. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at least one ICE agent fired seven rounds during the incident. "Based on evidence collected at the scene, we know that at least one ICE agent discharged the seven rounds, striking the driver," Tisch said.
DHS has not explained what prompted the agent to open fire. The agency blamed New York’s sanctuary policies for the situation, noting that the man had been arrested by city police in December 2023 but released days later rather than handed over to federal immigration authorities.
Protests and political reaction
As news of the shooting spread, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where the driver was initially taken. Protesters chanted "ICE off our streets" and clashed with police officers who were setting up barricades. Demonstrators threw water bottles, and officers made several arrests after shoving matches broke out.
Governor Hochul said she had spoken with both Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to express the "outrage" of New Yorkers. She demanded that the federal government halt ICE operations in the state and immediately release any body-worn camera footage of the shooting.
"I will not stand by while ICE agents terrorise our communities," Mamdani said, accusing the agency of acting "with impunity" and bringing "chaos and terror" to the city.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the shooting.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rounds fired by ICE agent | 7 | New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch |
| Age of the child in the car | 5 | New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch |
| Age of the man shot | 28 | New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Immigration and Customs Enforcement | The federal agency whose agent shot the driver. |
| Bronx | The New York City borough where the shooting took place. |
| Kathy Hochul | Governor of New York who called for a halt to ICE operations and the release of bodycam footage. |
| Zohran Mamdani | Mayor of New York City who condemned the shooting and demanded Trump halt ICE operations. |
