A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and wounded a man in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon, an incident that has sparked immediate political backlash from New York City's mayor and other local officials.
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. in the Marble Hill neighborhood, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD), which initially reported that federal law enforcement agents were involved. City police were not part of the operation. Officials later confirmed to NewsNation that ICE agents were responsible.
The victim, described by officials as an immigrant in the country illegally with a prior criminal record, was transported to a nearby hospital. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the man had a prior conviction for grand larceny and multiple arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession, and weapons possession. He had been arrested on Dec. 7, 2023, but released days later.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) called the situation “incredibly serious” and said he had already contacted President Trump. “I have called the President; when we speak I will demand that he ends all ICE enforcement actions in our city,” Mamdani wrote on social media. “I will not stand by while ICE agents terrorize our communities.”
Early reports indicate that ICE agents fired multiple rounds at the man's car while he and his 5-year-old child were inside. The child was reportedly unharmed. City Council Speaker Julie Menin echoed Mamdani's concerns, saying she was “deeply troubled” and called for a “fully transparent account” from federal authorities. Governor Kathy Hochul also demanded a “full and transparent accounting” of the incident.
The shooting comes less than a month after ICE agents shot a Venezuelan national in Austin, Texas, during a food delivery. That man, 28, has since been charged with assault. The repeated incidents have intensified scrutiny of ICE's enforcement tactics, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions. The agency has recently launched a targeted enforcement push in sanctuary cities, drawing sharp criticism from local leaders.
White House border czar Tom Homan has defended ICE's actions, emphasizing that the agency is “not going anywhere” despite calls from some Democrats to abolish it. The DHS said the Bronx shooting is under investigation, with more details to be released as they become available.
The incident has heightened tensions between federal immigration authorities and local officials, who argue that such operations endanger public safety. Legal challenges to federal enforcement have also emerged, such as a Justice Department lawsuit against Maryland over a law that forces federal agents to reveal their identities. The outcome of the Bronx investigation could further shape the debate over ICE's role in American communities.
