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New York state AG has introduced a new online portal asking residents to share visual evidence of federal immigration enforcement across New York. This move follows a day after a major ICE raid rattled Chinatown in Manhattan, sparking mass demonstrations.

American Citizens Arrested During Raid

A US congressman disclosed during a news conference that four citizens were detained and kept for "about 24 hours" after the previous day's operation. Rallies broke out in the city on consecutive evenings.

"Every New Yorker deserves to live without fear," the attorney general wrote in a release.

"For those who saw and recorded ICE activity yesterday, I ask you to provide that evidence with the authorities. We are pledged to examining these accounts and evaluating any legal breaches."

Portal Features

The platform provides spaces to send visual evidence of the operation, along with a field to indicate geographic details. Prior to sending, individuals must mark a option that states that "authorities could utilize any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, including in a court case or government document."

Information about the Chinatown Raid

The Manhattan operation, which witnesses say included over fifty government officers, took place in a well-known neighborhood of the city where counterfeit handbags, accessories, jewelry and other goods are regularly available widely – often to sightseers.

Footage of the operation reveal multiple masked and armed personnel zip-tying and detaining a man, and pushing back witnesses. Masses of locals followed the personnel along the roads. An military-style transport was also seen moving along the city streets.

Official Reactions

At a Wednesday press conference featuring the rights organization, the congressman, a Democrat, stated that four American citizens were arrested by immigration for almost a full day and that there were "no circumstances where US citizens should be taken for no reason." He noted the citizens were freed on the following day with no accusations made.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not to take criminals off the street," the congressman stated. "This constitutes a armed campaign to provoke unrest. It is purely a justification to generate turmoil for the government to utilize the armed forces to prevent violence that they initiated."

Extensive Outcry

Fury over the ICE raid escalated – every NYC mayor hopefuls condemned the operation, along with Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Yet again, the current administration opts for authoritarian theatrics that generate terror, rather than security. It needs to cease," a contender declared.

New York City immigrant rights groups spoke out as well.

"Federal officers descended on Manhattan's Chinatown with military-style vehicles, covered personnel and protective equipment to go after street vendors working to survive. This raid had nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with intimidating residents and areas," said the leader of a major immigrant coalition.

Official Guidelines

ICE policy prohibits the arrest of American nationals and the agency has said it does not take into custody US citizens. However, investigative journalism has found that over 170 US citizens have been detained unlawfully by federal agents during the period of the current administration.

Current Situation

Enforcement actions have been rising in frequency in the state and around the country lately.

A mid-October raid in central NYC was the initial documented operation on an refuge facility of the current administration. Demonstrations against federal operations are ubiquitous including claims of aggression and cruel conditions.

Most recently, a submission filed by civil rights groups alleged inadequate care of women with child in government custody.