Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he tried to negotiate with President Trump to release the “criminal illegal alien” and alleged gang member who was shot by ICE Thursday in the Bronx as he called for the abolishment of the federal agency.
“Around 4 p.m. this afternoon, a New Yorker was shot by ICE agents in Marble Hill,” a furious Mamdani told reporters at the late-night press conference near the scene of a rowdy anti-ICE protest in the borough.
“For the past two hours, I’ve been on the phone with President Trump and [DHS] Secretary Mullin negotiating the release of the man ICE agents shot. Those negotiations were unsuccessful,” Hizzoner said.
The migrant, identified by the NYPD as Oscar Belgal, 28, was shot in the neck and hospitalized before he was taken from NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital by unmarked ICE vehicles, according to the mayor.
Mamdani — who spoke over protesters’ chants labeling him “complicit” — called Immigration and Customs Enforcement “rotten to its core” and is an “agency that must be abolished” in the fiery speech.
“What does Trump have to say about all of this?” he demanded.
“Now I made clear to the president, to the secretary, our request [is] that ICE agents leave the scene entirely — as well as the demand that ICE stop its enforcement actions in New York City.”
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE had been attempting to arrest Belgal, of the Dominican Republic, who they claimed has ties to the Trinitarios gang when the shooting occurred.
“We know, and I have said this directly, whether to the president or to the public, ICE undermines public safety. It makes us less safe,” the mayor said.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that seven rounds were fired by at least one ICE agent and made it clear that the “NYPD had no involvement in the federal operation prior to the shooting.”
Belgal was transported to NewYork Presbyterian Allen Hospital, where he arrived in stable condition, according to Tisch.
However, moments before the press conference kicked off around 11:20 p.m., “ICE put the man in an unmarked vehicle and whisked him away,” Hizzoner said.
“Let me say this plainly, what happened today was an outrage,” Mamdani fumed.
