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New York state attorney general has introduced a new reporting form encouraging citizens to share visual evidence of immigration raids around New York. This action follows a shortly after a significant ICE raid rattled Manhattan's Chinatown, sparking mass outcry.

US Citizens Arrested During Enforcement Action

A congressional representative announced during a Wednesday press conference that four citizens were arrested and kept for "about 24 hours" after the enforcement action. Rallies occurred in NYC on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

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

"If you witnessed and captured ICE activity during the raid, I urge you to submit that evidence with the authorities. We are committed to reviewing these submissions and determining any wrongdoings."

Submission Process

The platform provides fields to send visual evidence of the operation, as well as a area to note geographic details. Prior to sending, users must tick a option that acknowledges that "the attorney general may use any materials, images, or footage in a legal proceeding, including in a lawsuit or government document."

Details of the Manhattan Operation

The Manhattan operation, which witnesses say featured over fifty federal agents, occurred in a well-known neighborhood of NYC where counterfeit purses, items, goods and additional items are commonly traded en masse – frequently to sightseers.

Recordings of the incident depict multiple hooded and equipped officers zip-tying and detaining a man, and pushing back onlookers. Crowds of locals trailed the agents through the streets. An armored truck was also seen rolling through the Manhattan avenues.

Political Response

During a midweek briefing featuring the New York immigrant rights coalition, Representative Goldman, a lawmaker, stated that four nationals were detained by ICE for almost a full day and that there were "no situations where US citizens should be detained for without cause." He clarified the persons were freed on Wednesday with no accusations made.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not focused on deporting lawbreakers," the congressman stated. "This represents a armed campaign to provoke unrest. It is purely a justification to provoke conflict for the government to utilize the armed forces to prevent unrest that they themselves caused."

Extensive Outcry

Fury over the federal action escalated – all three NYC mayor hopefuls denounced the raid, as did NY's governor.

"Yet again, the federal government chooses heavy-handed tactics that generate terror, rather than security. It must stop," one mayoral candidate wrote.

New York City immigrant rights groups spoke out also.

"Federal officers targeted Manhattan's Chinatown with armored transports, masked agents and tactical gear to focus on local sellers working to survive. This action had no relation to community security and focused completely on terrorizing immigrant families and areas," stated the head of a rights organization.

Agency Rules

Official guidelines forbids the detention of US citizens and the organization has stated it refrains from arrest or detain citizens. Nevertheless, investigative journalism has discovered that more than 170 US citizens have been held against their will by immigration authorities since the beginning of the present government.

Ongoing Trend

Enforcement actions have been becoming more common in New York and nationwide lately.

A mid-October raid in the city center was the initial documented operation on an refuge facility of the current administration. Rallies opposing ICE are widespread along with claims of aggression and inhumane treatment.

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