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The state attorney general has rolled out a recent online portal urging locals to provide images and footage of ICE operations throughout New York. This step follows a shortly after a major immigration operation disrupted NYC's Chinatown, triggering mass demonstrations.

US Citizens Arrested During ICE Operation

A lawmaker disclosed during a Wednesday press conference that four citizens were detained and kept for "about 24 hours" after Tuesday's raid. Rallies erupted in the city on consecutive evenings.

"Every New Yorker is entitled to exist without intimidation," the attorney general wrote in a statement.

"For those who saw and recorded ICE activity recently, I ask you to submit that footage with my office. We are pledged to examining these accounts and determining any legal breaches."

Portal Features

The form provides fields to submit visual evidence of the raid, as well as a area to specify where it occurred. Before submitting, users must tick a option that acknowledges that "the attorney general may use any documents, photographs, or videos in a official report, such as in a court case or official statement."

Information about the Chinatown Raid

The Chinatown raid, which observers say involved more than 50 government officers, happened in a well-known area of Manhattan where imitation purses, items, goods and merchandise are sold daily en masse – typically to sightseers.

Recordings of the operation reveal multiple covered and weaponized federal agents zip-tying and detaining a man, and shoving away onlookers. Throngs of New Yorkers followed the personnel along the roads. An armored military vehicle was also seen moving along the Manhattan avenues.

Official Reactions

In a news conference organized with the immigrant advocacy group, Representative Goldman, a Democrat, said that four American citizens were detained by ICE for almost a full day and that there were "no situations where four American citizens should be detained for without cause." He said the individuals were let go on Wednesday with no legal action taken.

"The goal is evident here. It is not to take criminals off the street," he said. "This constitutes a militarized effort to incite tension. It is purely a justification to provoke conflict for this administration to bring in the troops to stop unrest that they have created."

Widespread Condemnation

Fury over the federal action rapidly grew – every mayoral candidates denounced the incident, as did the state leader.

"Yet again, the Trump administration chooses heavy-handed tactics that generate terror, instead of protection. It has to end," a political candidate stated.

New York City advocacy organizations voiced concern too.

"Immigration agents raided Chinatown in NYC with armored transports, covered personnel and protective equipment to go after street vendors working to survive. This operation had no connection to community security and was entirely about terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," said the head of a rights organization.

ICE Policies

ICE policy forbids the detention of US citizens and the agency has stated it will not apprehend American nationals. However, external research has discovered that more than 170 citizens have been taken illegally by immigration authorities during the period of the present government.

Current Situation

Immigration operations have been cropping up increasingly in the state and across the US recently.

An October operation in central NYC was the first known raid on an immigrant shelter of the present government. Protests opposing federal operations are widespread along with claims of violence and inhumane treatment.

Latest, a submission submitted by legal entities claimed healthcare failures of women with child in ICE facilities.