From Straight Arrow · · 1m 40s
NYC man held in ICE custody after bullet in neck
NYC man with bullet in neck held by ICE after unlawful arrest.
In brief
NYC man with bullet in neck held by ICE after unlawful arrest. Oscar Belgal, a NYC man, has a bullet in his neck and remains in ICE custody after being unlawfully arrested by an ICE agent who did not identify himself. Originally reported by Straight Arrow.
Unlawful arrest
Oscar Belgal was unlawfully arrested by an ICE agent who did not identify himself before breaking his car window.
“The ICE agent who shot Oscar Belgal in New York City last Thursday did not identify himself before coming up to his car and breaking a window.”
Injuries and medical neglect
Belgal has a bullet in his neck and has not received surgery to remove it, causing hearing loss and facial numbness.
“Belgal has had a loss of sensation in half of his face, as well as hearing loss in his left ear, and has not received surgery to remove the bullet from his neck.”
ICE's account of events
ICE claims agents blocked Belgal's car to prevent him from driving away after he accelerated toward their vehicles.
“ICE agents used their vehicles to block Belgal in and prevent him from driving away.”
Local officials' reactions
New York Governor Kathy Hochul demanded body camera footage be released to establish the truth, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for ICE abolition.
“Gov. Kathy Hochul said she asked that any body camera footage of the shooting be released to the public so we can establish the facts and get to the truth.”
Legal action
Belgal's lawyers filed a court document stating his arrest was unlawful and he must be released immediately from the Metropolitan Detention Center.
“Belgal’s lawyers said his arrest was “unlawful” and that he must be released immediately from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.”
Similar case in Austin
Another man, Wilber Garcés Perez, was shot by ICE in Austin and had to wait 11 days for surgery to remove a bullet.
“Another man shot and injured by ICE in Austin, Wilber Garcés Perez, had to wait 11 days to get a bullet taken out of his body.”
ICE's constitutional violation claim
Belgal's lawyers say ICE violated the Constitution by failing to charge him as removable before arresting him.
“Respondents have failed to meet the most elemental requirements for their arrest and detention authority, not even having charged Oscar as removable before arresting him.”
Current custody status
Belgal remains in ICE custody with a bullet still lodged in his neck and serious medical needs unmet.
“With a bullet still lodged in his neck and his serious medical needs unmet, every additional day in custody puts him at further risk.”
Call for reform
Local officials and lawyers argue federal agents cannot act as judge, jury, and executioner on streets.
“Federal agents cannot act as judge, jury, and executioner on our streets.”
The key point
Oscar Belgal, a NYC man, has a bullet in his neck and remains in ICE custody after being unlawfully arrested by an ICE agent who did not identify himself.
