Caribbean immigrant advocates have condemned the shooting of a man by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Bronx, New York, calling for an independent investigation, the release of body-camera footage and accountability for those involved.
The shooting occurred on October 8 in the Marble Hill neighborhood during an immigration enforcement operation. The injured man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was reported to be conscious and receiving medical treatment. New York City officials said a five-year-old child was inside the vehicle at the time but was not physically injured.
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Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), condemned the operation, arguing that ICE’s enforcement tactics pose a threat to public safety. He called for an immediate investigation and the release of footage showing the encounter, as well as accountability for any agents found to have used excessive force.
Awawdeh also cited previous shootings involving federal immigration officers in other states, saying the incidents demonstrated the need for stronger oversight of immigration enforcement operations.
Yaritza Mendez, deputy director of immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York, also criticized the shooting. She called for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible, arguing that aggressive immigration enforcement has created fear among immigrant families and communities.
Mendez further called for an end to ICE enforcement in New York City, accusing the agency of using tactics that undermine the safety and security of residents. Her comments reflected broader concerns among immigrant-rights organizations about the conduct of federal agents during arrests and other enforcement actions.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said residents of Marble Hill had raised concerns about increased ICE activity in their neighborhood for months. He criticized the federal government’s immigration enforcement approach and called for greater accountability, arguing that residents should not have to fear encounters with armed federal agents in their communities.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also expressed concern about the incident. He said preliminary information indicated that ICE agents surrounded the man’s vehicle before opening fire and confirmed that a young child had been inside. Mamdani said he intended to raise the matter with President Donald Trump and demand an end to ICE enforcement operations in the city.
The New York Immigration Coalition said more than two dozen people had been shot by federal immigration officers over the preceding year, with many incidents involving people inside vehicles. The organization reported that six people had died in those shootings.
The incident has renewed calls from Caribbean and other immigrant-rights advocates for greater transparency and oversight of federal immigration enforcement. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the agents’ actions and the events leading up to the use of force.
