Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that immigration officers were unaware of a 5-year-old child in a car when they shot the driver, Oscar Belgal, during a targeted operation in New York City. Mullin suggested that Belgal endangered the child by recklessly driving and attempting to evade arrest.
Belgal, described as an undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic, had a history of evading arrest and was the target of an ongoing investigation. The incident, which occurred in a residential area, has drawn criticism from local officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who labeled the shooting an “outrage.”
According to Mullin, Belgal “weaponized his vehicle” and accelerated toward officers, prompting them to open fire after he struck two ICE vehicles. The New York Police Department reported that at least one ICE officer discharged seven rounds during the incident. Belgal’s son is currently in the care of a family member, while Belgal remains in federal custody outside of New York state.
