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New York state attorney general has launched a new digital platform urging citizens to provide photos and videos of ICE operations throughout the state. This move follows a day after a significant ICE raid shook NYC's Chinatown, triggering widespread outcry.

US Citizens Detained During Raid

A lawmaker announced during a midweek briefing that four American citizens were arrested and held for "almost a full day" following Tuesday's raid. Protests broke out in New York on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Each citizen deserves to exist without intimidation," the AG declared in a announcement.

"If you witnessed and documented ICE activity yesterday, I encourage you to share that evidence with us. We are pledged to reviewing these submissions and evaluating any legal breaches."

Submission Process

The portal provides fields to send visual evidence of the incident, as well as a area to indicate location information. When submitting, users must tick a checkbox that confirms that "the office may use any documents, photographs, or videos in a official report, such as in a court case or government document."

Information about the Chinatown Raid

The enforcement action, which onlookers say featured over fifty ICE personnel, took place in a well-known district of Manhattan where counterfeit purses, items, goods and other goods are sold daily en masse – frequently to sightseers.

Recordings of Tuesday's raid reveal numerous covered and weaponized personnel securing and holding a individual, and forcing aside witnesses. Masses of New Yorkers followed the officers through the streets. An military-style transport was also seen rolling through the Manhattan avenues.

Political Response

At a news conference held with the rights organization, the congressman, a Democrat, stated that four US citizens were arrested by immigration for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no conditions where four American citizens should be arrested for without cause." He noted the citizens were let go on the following day with no legal action taken.

"The goal is evident here. It is not focused on deporting lawbreakers," Goldman said. "This constitutes a military-style operation to provoke unrest. It is purely a pretext to incite violence for this administration to deploy the troops to halt conflict that they themselves caused."

Widespread Condemnation

Fury over the ICE raid escalated – every political contenders denounced the operation, along with NY's governor.

"Repeatedly, the current administration chooses heavy-handed tactics that generate terror, not safety. It has to end," a contender declared.

The city's immigrant rights groups spoke out as well.

"ICE targeted Manhattan's Chinatown with armored transports, masked agents and tactical gear to focus on street vendors trying to make a living. This operation had no connection to public safety and was entirely about frightening communities and areas," stated the leader of a rights organization.

ICE Policies

ICE policy bans the holding of citizens and the organization has said it refrains from apprehend citizens. Yet, external research has found that over 170 US citizens have been detained unlawfully by ICE during the period of the present government.

Ongoing Trend

Immigration operations have been cropping up increasingly in NY and around the country this year.

An October operation in midtown Manhattan was the first known raid on an refuge facility of the current administration. Rallies against ICE are widespread including accusations of force and abusive practices.

Most recently, a submission filed by civil rights groups alleged healthcare failures of women with child in government custody.