Judge Blocks Deportation of Man Shot by ICE Agents
A federal judge blocked the deportation of a Dominican national shot by ICE agents in New York amid a clash over sanctuary city policies.
U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken issued a temporary order on Friday blocking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from deporting Oscar Belgal, a Dominican national shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York City on Thursday. The ruling also prohibits federal agents from transferring Belgal to any facility outside the Southern or Eastern Districts of New York or the District of New Jersey without court approval.
Accounts of the shooting conflict. One report indicates plainclothes agents approached Belgal's vehicle with weapons drawn while his five-year-old son was in the back seat. Conversely, the Department of Homeland Security reports Belgal, a suspected gang member with prior convictions for armed robbery and drug distribution, attempted to ram agents with his car to escape detention.
The incident sparked protests in Herald Square and a political dispute. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for the abolition of ICE, while Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the agents and characterized Belgal as a thug who endangered his own child.
Following the shooting, the Department of Homeland Security reported that New York state and city officials rejected 16,070 ICE detainer requests between January 20, 2025, and October 8, 2026. These requests were associated with 52,503 criminal charges, including 131 homicides. Secretary Mullin condemned Governor Kathy Hochul's sanctuary policies as a disaster, while the agency highlighted Operation Rotten Apple, which arrested 2,197 criminals in New York during July and August 2026.
