(NewsNation) — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin condemned sanctuary cities following an ICE shooting in New York, saying federal authorities will continue to pursue efforts to deport the “worst of the worst.”
“We’re not picking and choosing which laws to enforce like these sanctuary politicians. We’re enforcing our nation’s laws,” he said. “Why is that controversial?”
A federal immigration officer shot and wounded a man during an arrest attempt, shooting into a car that also held a 5-year-old child, who was unharmed.
Mullin claimed officers were not aware the child was in the car during the shooting, blaming the suspect for his actions taken while the child was present, calling it “absurd” for people to blame the officers.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the shooting, calling it an “outrage” and saying it left millions of New Yorkers wondering if they would be safe on their streets.
Mullin also referenced an attack on a New York City Police Department officer who was stabbed by someone who is in the country illegally, criticizing those who protest for against immigration officers for not protesting in support of the NYPD officer.
The Department of Homeland Security identified the man shot as Oscar Belgal, a native of the Dominican Republic who came to the U.S. illegally and who has a conviction for grand larceny. DHS said he was arrested in New York in 2023 but released on the streets due to sanctuary policies.
Belgal “weaponized” his vehicle, using it to crash into ICE vehicles and accelerate toward officers when officers shot at the car, claimed Marcos Charles, Executive Associate Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations with ICE.
Charles characterized Belgal’s injury as superficial and said he has been placed in a detention facility out of state while efforts to prosecute him and remove him from the U.S. as quickly as possible will continue.
When asked if Belgal was aware it was ICE stopping him, given that officers were in plainclothes, Mullin said undercover investigations do not use marked cars.
“We identified ourselves and gave lawful orders as we approached the vehicle,” Mullin said. “He knew he was wanted.”
Mullin stated that DHS is pursuing the “worst of the worst” and will continue to pursue efforts to remove dangerous criminals from the country. Data shows roughly 70% of those detained by federal immigration authorities do not have any criminal record.
He also criticized Mamdani for seeking Belgal’s release, stating the department would release Belgal to the NYPD if the department wished to pursue criminal charges against him but would not release him otherwise.