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The state AG has rolled out a recent digital platform asking residents to share visual evidence of immigration raids across New York. This step comes just a day after a significant ICE raid shook NYC's Chinatown, triggering mass protests.

US Citizens Detained During Enforcement Action

A congressional representative revealed during a news conference that four US citizens were detained and kept for "nearly 24 hours" after the enforcement action. Rallies broke out in NYC on consecutive evenings.

"Every New Yorker has the right to exist without intimidation," the AG stated in a release.

"For those who saw and recorded immigration enforcement recently, I urge you to submit that footage with my office. We are pledged to assessing these reports and evaluating any wrongdoings."

Submission Process

The platform includes spaces to submit photos and videos of the operation, along with a section to indicate location information. Before submitting, users must tick a checkbox that acknowledges that "authorities may use any materials, images, or footage in a official report, including in a legal proceeding or government document."

Details of the Chinatown Raid

The Manhattan operation, which witnesses say featured more than 50 government officers, happened in a famous district of NYC where counterfeit purses, items, goods and additional items are sold daily in large quantities – often to sightseers.

Recordings of the incident show multiple hooded and equipped federal agents securing and holding a individual, and forcing aside witnesses. Crowds of locals pursued the officers along the roads. An armored military vehicle was also seen traveling down the urban roads.

Official Reactions

At a news conference organized with the New York immigrant rights coalition, the congressman, a lawmaker, announced that four US citizens were detained by ICE for almost a full day and that there were "no situations where nationals should be detained for unjustly." He noted the individuals were let go on the following day with no accusations made.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not to take criminals off the street," Goldman remarked. "This is a military-style operation to provoke unrest. It is simply a pretext to generate turmoil for federal officials to utilize the troops to halt violence that they themselves caused."

Widespread Condemnation

Fury over the ICE raid escalated – all three NYC mayor hopefuls denounced the operation, as did the state leader.

"Once again, the federal government chooses heavy-handed tactics that instill panic, instead of protection. It must stop," one mayoral candidate declared.

New York City immigrant rights groups voiced concern too.

"Immigration agents descended on Manhattan's Chinatown with military-style vehicles, masked agents and protective equipment to go after local sellers working to survive. This action had no connection to public safety and focused completely on intimidating residents and neighborhoods," said the head of a rights organization.

ICE Policies

ICE policy prohibits the holding of citizens and the bureau has said it does not arrest or detain US citizens. However, investigative journalism has discovered that more than 170 citizens have been taken illegally by immigration authorities since the start of the existing leadership.

Ongoing Trend

ICE raids have been cropping up increasingly in New York and around the country lately.

A mid-October raid in midtown Manhattan was the initial documented operation on an refuge facility of the present government. Protests against ICE are widespread as are claims of violence and inhumane treatment.

Latest, a document submitted by advocacy organizations claimed healthcare failures of women with child in ICE facilities.