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New York state AG has rolled out a fresh online portal encouraging locals to submit visual evidence of ICE operations across New York. This step follows a day after a high-profile enforcement action shook NYC's Chinatown, sparking large-scale outcry.

American Citizens Detained During Raid

A lawmaker announced during a midweek briefing that four citizens were arrested and kept for "about 24 hours" after Tuesday's raid. Rallies erupted in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

"All New York residents is entitled to live without fear," the AG wrote in a announcement.

"Anyone who observed and documented federal operations recently, I encourage you to provide that material with the authorities. We are pledged to assessing these reports and evaluating any wrongdoings."

Submission Process

The form provides fields to submit photos and videos of the operation, as well as a field to indicate where it occurred. Before submitting, users must mark a box that confirms that "the attorney general could utilize any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, such as in a lawsuit or government document."

Details of the Chinatown Raid

The Chinatown raid, which observers say featured dozens of federal agents, took place in a popular area of the city where counterfeit purses, items, goods and merchandise are regularly available widely – frequently to sightseers.

Recordings of Tuesday's raid depict several covered and weaponized officers restraining and arresting a individual, and shoving away witnesses. Crowds of New Yorkers pursued the officers down the sidewalks. An armored truck was also seen traveling down the Manhattan avenues.

Official Reactions

During a Wednesday press conference organized with the New York immigrant rights coalition, congressman Dan Goldman, a Democrat, stated that four US citizens were taken by federal agents for about 24 hours and that there were "no situations where four American citizens should be arrested for unjustly." He said the individuals were freed on Wednesday with no legal action taken.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not about removing offenders," Goldman stated. "This is a armed campaign to create conflict. It is purely a excuse to incite violence for federal officials to bring in the troops to prevent conflict that they initiated."

Extensive Outcry

Outrage over the ICE raid escalated – all three mayoral candidates criticized the raid, including Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Yet again, the federal government opts for heavy-handed tactics that instill panic, instead of protection. It must stop," one mayoral candidate wrote.

NYC community groups expressed outrage too.

"ICE raided Chinatown in NYC with armored transports, hooded officers and protective equipment to go after street vendors attempting to earn income. This operation had no relation to public safety and focused completely on terrorizing immigrant families and communities," remarked the leader of a major immigrant coalition.

ICE Policies

Official guidelines bans the detention of US citizens and the organization has stated it will not take into custody US citizens. Nevertheless, external research has discovered that numerous US citizens have been taken illegally by ICE since the beginning of the present government.

Current Situation

Immigration operations have been cropping up increasingly in the state and around the country recently.

A mid-October raid in central NYC was the earliest reported action on an housing center of the existing leadership. Demonstrations against ICE are commonplace as are accusations of aggression and abusive practices.

Latest, a letter filed by legal entities stated healthcare failures of women with child in detention centers.