ICE agents shoot Dominican migrant Oscar Belgal in Bronx after vehicle chase
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fired on Oscar Belgal, a 28‑year‑old Dominican national, on October 10 in the Marble Hill section of the Bronx after he attempted to flee the scene in his Honda SUV.
Belgal sustained a wound to the neck and was taken to NewYork‑Presbyterian Allen Hospital before being transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His five‑year‑old son, who was in the back seat, was not physically injured.
ICE officials said Belgal “refused lawful orders to exit his vehicle,” then accelerated, smashing into two government vehicles and “weaponizing” his car by driving toward officers. Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles described the maneuver as an escalation that forced agents to use force.
The shooting reignited a debate over New York’s sanctuary policies. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin condemned the city’s leadership, blaming Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul for creating an environment that allows criminal activity to thrive. Mullin said sanctuary politicians “refuse to take care of their own streets” and urged that “the state of New York knew he was illegal and they chose to release him back into the streets.”
Mayor Mamdani responded by calling ICE “rotten to its core” and demanded the agency be abolished. He characterized Belgal as “a New Yorker” caught in a dangerous situation, while emphasizing the presence of the child in the vehicle.
A federal judge, Paul Oetken, issued a two‑page order that barred Belgal’s deportation without a specific court order and limited any transfer outside the Southern or Eastern Districts of New York or the District of New Jersey. The ruling came after protests erupted over the shooting and the perceived use of excessive force.
Court records reveal that Belgal entered the United States illegally around 2022 and has a documented criminal history, including a 2023 armed robbery, a 2025 conviction for fourth‑degree grand larceny, and an August 2025 arrest on fentanyl, cocaine and heroin charges. Federal officials also linked him to the Trinitarios street gang, which was suspected in a 2025 shooting of an off‑duty Customs and Border Protection officer.
ICE agents were wearing body cameras during the encounter, but DHS has not yet released the footage. The agency says the video will be made public as the investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI progresses.
The case remains under federal review, and advocates on both sides are preparing for further legal challenges while the city grapples with public safety concerns amid ongoing debates over immigration enforcement.
