🔗 Share this article New York Introduces Reporting Tool for Residents to Submit Immigration Footage After Arrests of Four US Citizens The state attorney general has rolled out a recent digital platform asking residents to share photos and videos of immigration raids across New York. This move comes just a shortly after a significant enforcement action rattled Manhattan's Chinatown, prompting large-scale protests. American Citizens Held During Raid A US congressman disclosed during a midweek briefing that four US citizens were taken into custody and detained for "nearly 24 hours" after Tuesday's raid. Protests occurred in the city on both Tuesday and Wednesday. "All New York residents has the right to live without fear," state officials wrote in a announcement. "For those who saw and recorded ICE activity recently, I encourage you to provide that evidence with my office. We are pledged to examining these reports and evaluating any violations of law." Portal Features The platform includes spaces to send images and video footage of the raid, as well as a field to indicate where it occurred. Prior to sending, individuals must check a option that acknowledges that "the office could utilize any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, including in a court case or government document." Information about the ICE Action The Manhattan operation, which onlookers say featured dozens of ICE personnel, occurred in a famous neighborhood of the city where fake handbags, accessories, jewelry and merchandise are sold daily in large quantities – often to tourists. Footage of Tuesday's raid reveal multiple masked and armed federal agents restraining and arresting a person, and pushing back bystanders. Crowds of New Yorkers followed the agents down the sidewalks. An armored military vehicle was also seen traveling down the city streets. Leadership Statements During a midweek briefing held with the New York immigrant rights coalition, Representative Goldman, a lawmaker, announced that four American citizens were taken by federal agents for almost a full day and that there were "no situations where nationals should be arrested for without cause." He clarified the persons were let go on Wednesday with no legal action taken. "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 simply a justification to generate turmoil for this administration to utilize the armed forces to prevent violence that they themselves caused." Extensive Outcry Anger over the immigration operation rapidly grew – every NYC mayor hopefuls condemned the raid, as did NY's governor. "Repeatedly, the current administration opts for authoritarian theatrics that generate terror, rather than security. It needs to cease," a political candidate declared. The city's advocacy organizations expressed outrage as well. "Federal officers descended on Chinatown in NYC with armored transports, hooded officers and riot gear to go after small merchants trying to make a living. This operation had no connection to citizen protection and everything to do with frightening communities and neighborhoods," remarked the head of a advocacy group. Official Guidelines Agency rules forbids the detention of US citizens and the bureau has said it does not take into custody citizens. Nevertheless, investigative journalism has discovered that numerous citizens have been taken illegally by immigration authorities during the period of the existing leadership. Ongoing Trend ICE raids have been cropping up increasingly in the state and around the country lately. A recent action in central NYC was the initial documented operation on an housing center of the current administration. Rallies targeting ICE are ubiquitous along with claims of force and abusive practices. Latest, a submission submitted by legal entities claimed medical neglect of expectant mothers in government custody.