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New York state attorney general has rolled out a fresh reporting form encouraging citizens to provide photos and videos of ICE operations throughout the state. This move follows a day after a high-profile immigration operation shook NYC's Chinatown, triggering widespread demonstrations.

American Citizens Arrested In Raid

A congressional representative disclosed during a news conference that four US citizens were taken into custody and detained for "almost a full day" following Tuesday's raid. Protests erupted in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

"Every New Yorker is entitled to exist without intimidation," the attorney general stated in a release.

"For those who saw and documented ICE activity yesterday, I encourage you to share that material with my office. We are pledged to assessing these reports and evaluating any legal breaches."

Submission Process

The platform offers fields to submit photos and videos of the operation, plus a area to note geographic details. When submitting, submitters must check a checkbox that confirms that "the attorney general might employ any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, such as in a lawsuit or public report."

Details of the ICE Action

The Chinatown raid, which observers say included more than 50 ICE personnel, occurred in a popular district of Manhattan where counterfeit products and other goods are regularly available en masse – typically to sightseers.

Videos of the incident depict numerous masked and armed federal agents zip-tying and detaining a man, and forcing aside bystanders. Masses of locals followed the personnel down the sidewalks. An military-style transport was also seen traveling down the Manhattan avenues.

Official Reactions

At a midweek briefing held with the rights organization, Representative Goldman, a Democrat, stated that four nationals were taken by federal agents for about 24 hours and that there were "no circumstances where nationals should be taken for no reason." He noted the individuals were let go on the following day with no charges filed.

"The goal is evident here. It is not about removing offenders," Goldman remarked. "This represents a armed campaign to incite tension. It is simply a pretext to incite violence for this administration to bring in the armed forces to prevent unrest that they themselves caused."

Widespread Condemnation

Anger over the immigration operation escalated – every NYC mayor hopefuls condemned the raid, along with Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Repeatedly, the federal government selects heavy-handed tactics that create fear, instead of protection. It must stop," one mayoral candidate wrote.

NYC immigrant rights groups spoke out also.

"Federal officers targeted Chinatown in NYC with tactical trucks, masked agents and tactical gear to focus on local sellers working to survive. This action had no relation to citizen protection and was entirely about terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," said the head of a advocacy group.

Official Guidelines

ICE policy forbids the detention of US citizens and the organization has stated it refrains from apprehend citizens. Yet, independent reporting has revealed that numerous citizens have been held against their will by ICE since the beginning of the existing leadership.

Ongoing Trend

Immigration operations have been becoming more common in NY and nationwide recently.

A mid-October raid in midtown Manhattan was the first known raid on an refuge facility of the present government. Demonstrations against federal operations are ubiquitous along with allegations of aggression and abusive practices.

Latest, a submission submitted by civil rights groups claimed medical neglect of women with child in ICE facilities.