NYPD commissioner’s resignation demanded over ICE cases in New York

The case of Dominican national Óscar Belgal, who was shot during an immigration operation in New York, has sparked controversy between municipal authorities and political organizations that are questioning the actions of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in relation to federal immigration agents.

The situation has placed Mayor Zohran Mamdani under pressure, after the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organization, politically linked to the municipal leader, demanded the dismissal of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, arguing that the institution has facilitated the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The conflict arose following the incident that occurred on Thursday, October 8, in the Marble Hill sector, where 28-year-old Belgal was shot in the neck during an intervention by federal agents. At that time, he was inside a vehicle accompanied by his five-year-old son.

The minor was unharmed, but the episode triggered demonstrations against the immigration policies of President Donald Trump’s administration and reignited the debate over the limits of cooperation between local and federal authorities.

Protests for Óscar Belgal

The DSA organization maintains that NYPD officers facilitated the movement of immigration officials during the demonstrations held after the shooting. The group believes that this action contradicts New York’s commitment to protecting immigrant communities.

The organization’s co-chair in the city, Grace Mausser, questioned the police interventions against the protesters and demanded measures to prevent the municipal institution from participating in operations by immigration authorities.

The allegations include images shared on social media in which police officers are seen pushing several people aside while vehicles without official identification were leaving the scene.

However, representatives of the Mayor’s Office defended the police intervention with the argument that it sought to prevent accidents due to the speed at which a convoy of federal agents was traveling.

The NYPD has also maintained that its officers did not participate in the initial immigration operation in which the Dominican man was injured.

Óscar Belgal and Tisch

Despite the calls for dismissal that arose following the Óscar Belgal case, the municipal administration has ruled out, for the moment, making changes to the leadership of the Police Department.

Mayoral spokesperson Dora Pekec confirmed that Jessica Tisch will continue to serve as commissioner and that the municipal government will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent actions.

The decision highlights differences between Mamdani and political sectors that supported his arrival at the Mayor’s Office and that maintain a stance of rejection toward the federal government’s immigration operations.

Added to the criticism are the questions regarding Tisch’s statements about Belgal’s criminal record, disclosed during a public appearance following the shooting.

DSA representatives believe that those statements contributed to justifying the federal intervention, while U.S. authorities have cited the Dominican’s background as part of their arguments to defend the procedure.

Tensions by Óscar Belgal

The case of Óscar Belgal occurs amidst tensions between the municipal government and the Donald Trump administration over the enforcement of immigration laws in New York, a city that maintains policies protecting immigrants and restrictions on certain forms of collaboration with federal authorities.

Mamdani has publicly questioned ICE operations and requested explanations regarding the use of firearms during the procedure in which the Dominican man was injured.

For their part, federal authorities have defended their actions and maintain that Belgal had a criminal record and was the subject of immigration enforcement actions.

Investigation into Óscar Belgal

The case has also generated calls for an independent investigation to be conducted to clarify the circumstances of the shooting and determine whether safety protocols were followed.

As institutional differences continue, the situation maintains the attention of immigrant communities, including the Dominican one, which has a large presence in sectors of Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.