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The state AG has introduced a fresh online portal encouraging locals to submit photos and videos of immigration raids around New York. This step follows a day after a significant ICE raid shook NYC's Chinatown, sparking widespread outcry.

American Citizens Arrested During Enforcement Action

A congressional representative announced during a Wednesday press conference that four American citizens were arrested and kept for "nearly 24 hours" following the previous day's operation. Protests broke out in NYC on consecutive evenings.

"Every New Yorker deserves to reside free from terror," the attorney general declared in a release.

"Anyone who observed and captured immigration enforcement during the raid, I encourage you to submit that material with my office. We are pledged to assessing these accounts and determining any violations of law."

Submission Process

The form offers spaces to submit visual evidence of the operation, plus a area to specify geographic details. Before submitting, submitters must mark a option that acknowledges that "authorities could utilize any documents, photographs, or videos in a public document, such as in a lawsuit or public report."

Information about the Chinatown Raid

The Manhattan operation, which witnesses say included more than 50 federal agents, happened in a popular area of NYC where imitation handbags, accessories, jewelry and merchandise are commonly traded en masse – typically to visitors.

Videos of Tuesday's raid show several masked and armed personnel restraining and arresting a individual, and shoving away witnesses. Crowds of New Yorkers followed the agents down the sidewalks. An armored military vehicle was also seen traveling down the Manhattan avenues.

Leadership Statements

At a Wednesday press conference organized with the New York immigrant rights coalition, Representative Goldman, a lawmaker, said that four American citizens were arrested by immigration for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no conditions where US citizens should be arrested for no reason." He said the persons were let go on Wednesday with no charges filed.

"The intent is obvious here. It is not to take criminals off the street," the congressman stated. "This constitutes a military-style operation to provoke unrest. It is purely a excuse to generate turmoil for this administration to deploy the armed forces to prevent conflict that they themselves caused."

Widespread Condemnation

Anger over the immigration operation rapidly grew – all three NYC mayor hopefuls condemned the incident, including Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Yet again, the current administration chooses oppressive displays that generate terror, instead of protection. It must stop," one mayoral candidate stated.

The city's immigrant rights groups spoke out also.

"Federal officers raided Manhattan's Chinatown with military-style vehicles, masked agents and riot gear to focus on local sellers working to survive. This operation had no connection to citizen protection and was entirely about frightening communities and neighborhoods," said the head of a major immigrant coalition.

Agency Rules

ICE policy prohibits the arrest of American nationals and the agency has claimed it will not take into custody citizens. Yet, investigative journalism has discovered that numerous American nationals have been held against their will by federal agents since the beginning of the existing leadership.

Ongoing Trend

ICE raids have been rising in frequency in NY and around the country lately.

A mid-October raid in the city center was the initial documented operation on an refuge facility of the current administration. Protests targeting federal operations are widespread along with allegations of aggression and cruel conditions.

Recently, a letter submitted by civil rights groups claimed medical neglect of expectant mothers in ICE facilities.