Uproar in NY after ICE shoots man with child in the car

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot a man in a car in the Marble Hill neighborhood of New York City on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The man, identified as 28-year-old Oscar Belgal, was conscious and hospitalized. A five-year-old child was in the car, and the mayor said the child was physically unharmed.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, confirmed the officer discharged his weapon during an enforcement operation targeting a 'criminal illegal alien'. DHS said Belgal had a prior conviction for grand larceny and multiple arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession, and weapons possession. He was arrested in December 2023 and released a few days later.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani called President Donald Trump and said he has demanded that ICE stop all enforcement actions in the city. He described the incident as an 'unconscionable and incredibly serious situation'. Mamdani said the officer fired 'multiple rounds' into the car with a child inside.

Governor Kathy Hochul also spoke to President Trump, expressing 'outrage on behalf of New Yorkers'. She asked that body camera footage be released to the public to establish the facts.

Protests followed in the Bronx, with demonstrators accusing the Trump administration of escalating immigration crackdowns. City Council member Carmen De La Rosa said the incident illustrated the dangers of such policies.

The Trump administration has not yet issued a public statement. ICE has not released footage or further details.

The incident has sparked national debate over the use of federal enforcement in residential areas with children present.

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