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New York state AG has rolled out a fresh online portal encouraging citizens to share visual evidence of immigration raids around New York. This action follows a day after a major ICE raid disrupted Chinatown in Manhattan, sparking widespread demonstrations.

US Citizens Held During Enforcement Action

A US congressman announced during a midweek briefing that four citizens were taken into custody and kept for "about 24 hours" following the enforcement action. Demonstrations broke out in the city on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

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

"Anyone who observed and documented immigration enforcement yesterday, I encourage you to submit that material with the authorities. We are dedicated to examining these submissions and investigating any wrongdoings."

Form Details

The form includes fields to submit images and video footage of the operation, as well as a section to note geographic details. Before submitting, submitters must check a checkbox that acknowledges that "authorities may use any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, such as in a court case or public report."

Information about the Chinatown Raid

The enforcement action, which witnesses say featured over fifty government officers, happened in a famous area of Manhattan where counterfeit purses, items, goods and merchandise are sold daily in large quantities – typically to tourists.

Footage of Tuesday's raid show numerous masked and armed officers zip-tying and detaining a individual, and shoving away witnesses. Crowds of New Yorkers trailed the personnel through the streets. An armored military vehicle was observed traveling down the urban roads.

Official Reactions

At a news conference organized with the immigrant advocacy group, Representative Goldman, a lawmaker, announced that four nationals were taken by federal agents for about 24 hours and that there were "no conditions where four American citizens should be taken for unjustly." He clarified the persons were let go on the following day with no legal action taken.

"The goal is evident here. It is not about removing offenders," the congressman said. "This is a military-style operation to create conflict. It is purely a justification to generate turmoil for federal officials to deploy the troops to prevent conflict that they have created."

Extensive Outcry

Outrage over the immigration operation rapidly grew – every mayoral candidates denounced the incident, along with the state leader.

"Yet again, the federal government opts for heavy-handed tactics that create fear, rather than security. It needs to cease," a contender stated.

NYC immigrant rights groups expressed outrage as well.

"Federal officers descended on Manhattan's Chinatown with tactical trucks, covered personnel and riot gear to go after small merchants working to survive. This raid had nothing to do with community security and was entirely about intimidating residents and neighborhoods," stated the head of a rights organization.

Official Guidelines

Official guidelines forbids the holding of citizens and the organization has stated it does not take into custody American nationals. Yet, independent reporting has discovered that over 170 citizens have been held against their will by ICE since the beginning of the existing leadership.

Ongoing Trend

ICE raids have been rising in frequency in the state and across the US recently.

A mid-October raid in the city center was the first known raid on an immigrant shelter of the present government. Protests opposing immigration enforcement are commonplace along with allegations of aggression and cruel conditions.

Most recently, a letter submitted by civil rights groups claimed inadequate care of women with child in government custody.