# ICE defends shooting man with child in car

> US immigration officials say agents fired at a man who rammed their vehicles in New York, but the mayor says they were unidentifiable and the child was endangered.
- Title: ICE defends shooting man with child in car · BBC News
- Summary: US immigration officials say agents fired at a man who rammed their vehicles in New York, but the mayor says they were unidentifiable and the child was…
- Keywords: ice, immigration and customs enforcement, oscar belgal, new york, shooting, markwayne mullin, department of homeland security, zohran mamdani, news, world, defends, man
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq78px5y1zmzo
- Published: 2026-10-09T17:20:20.462+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ice, immigration and customs enforcement, oscar belgal, new york, shooting, markwayne mullin, department of homeland security, zohran mamdani, news, world
## ICE agents shoot man in Marble Hill
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot and wounded Oscar Belgal in his car in the Marble Hill neighbourhood of New York on Thursday. His five-year-old son was in the back seat.
## DHS head defends the shooting
Markwayne Mullin, head of the Department of Homeland Security, said officers fired while trying to arrest Belgal, who has a criminal history. Mullin said they were unaware the child was in the car.

> We weren't aware the child was in the car.
## ICE says Belgal rammed vehicles
Marcos Charles, a top ICE official, said agents used their vehicles to stop Belgal but he resisted orders to exit and accelerated, smashing into two ICE vehicles. He then weaponised his vehicle towards officers.

> Our officers, using their training, and believing that their life and the life of their partners in the general public were in danger, used their training and fired weapons.
## Mayor says agents were unidentifiable
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting unconscionable and said ICE agents surrounded Belgal's car before opening fire. They wore construction vests and masks that concealed their faces as federal agents.

> There is no reasonable way to identify them as ICE agents.
## Belgal's criminal history and detention
The DHS said Belgal, twenty-eight, was from the Dominican Republic with prior convictions for grand larceny and arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession and weapons possession. He is now held at a detention facility.
## Mayor seeks to halt ICE enforcement
Mamdani said he spoke to President Donald Trump and Mullin for two hours but failed to negotiate Belgal's release.He asked Trump to end ICE enforcement actions in New York.Mullin said he will not pause enforcement.
## Governor demands answers on shooting
Governor Kathy Hochul said federal officials must quickly explain what happened. She criticised ICE as a rogue federal agency with untrained agents operating with impunity, and said New Yorkers have witnessed far too many acts…

> New Yorkers have witnessed far too many acts of violence by a rogue federal agency and untrained agents that operate with impunity.
## Key takeaway

ICE agents shot Oscar Belgal in his car in New York on Thursday while his five-year-old son was in the back seat. Officials say Belgal rammed their vehicles and posed a threat; the mayor says agents were unidentifiable and endangered the child.