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New York state AG has rolled out a recent digital platform asking residents to provide images and footage of ICE operations across New York. This move comes just a day after a major immigration operation shook Chinatown in Manhattan, triggering large-scale demonstrations.

US Citizens Held During Enforcement Action

A congressional representative announced during a midweek briefing that four citizens were taken into custody and detained for "nearly 24 hours" following the enforcement action. Protests occurred in the city on consecutive evenings.

"Each citizen deserves to reside free from terror," the attorney general stated in a announcement.

"For those who saw and recorded immigration enforcement yesterday, I urge you to share that evidence with the authorities. We are pledged to reviewing these accounts and evaluating any wrongdoings."

Form Details

The form provides options to send visual evidence of the incident, as well as a field to indicate where it occurred. Prior to sending, individuals must tick a checkbox that confirms that "the attorney general might employ any documents, photographs, or videos in a official report, including in a lawsuit or public report."

Details of the ICE Action

The Chinatown raid, which witnesses say involved more than 50 federal agents, occurred in a well-known district of Manhattan where counterfeit handbags, accessories, jewelry and additional items are sold daily en masse – typically to visitors.

Videos of Tuesday's raid depict several hooded and equipped officers restraining and arresting a man, and forcing aside witnesses. Masses of residents trailed the personnel down the sidewalks. An armored military vehicle was observed traveling down the urban roads.

Leadership Statements

During a news conference featuring the immigrant advocacy group, congressman Dan Goldman, a Democrat, announced that four US citizens were arrested by immigration for about 24 hours and that there were "no circumstances where four American citizens should be arrested for without cause." He clarified the persons were freed on Wednesday with no legal action taken.

"The goal is evident here. It is not focused on deporting lawbreakers," Goldman remarked. "This constitutes a armed campaign to incite tension. It is simply a justification to incite violence for this administration to deploy the armed forces to stop conflict that they themselves caused."

Widespread Condemnation

Anger over the immigration operation quickly spread – every NYC mayor hopefuls denounced the incident, along with NY's governor.

"Yet again, the current administration chooses heavy-handed tactics that instill panic, rather than security. It has to end," a contender wrote.

The city's immigrant rights groups spoke out too.

"ICE raided the neighborhood with military-style vehicles, covered personnel and protective equipment to focus on small merchants trying to make a living. This raid had no connection to citizen protection and focused completely on intimidating residents and neighborhoods," remarked the president of a major immigrant coalition.

ICE Policies

Official guidelines forbids the detention of US citizens and the agency has said it will not arrest or detain American nationals. However, independent reporting has found that over 170 American nationals have been taken illegally by ICE since the start of the existing leadership.

Current Situation

ICE raids have been rising in frequency in the state and across the US lately.

A recent action in midtown Manhattan was the earliest reported action on an housing center of the current administration. Rallies opposing federal operations are commonplace along with claims of aggression and cruel conditions.

Latest, a document submitted by civil rights groups alleged healthcare failures of expectant mothers in detention centers.