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New York state AG has introduced a fresh online portal urging citizens to provide visual evidence of federal immigration enforcement throughout the state. This action comes just a shortly after a major enforcement action shook NYC's Chinatown, sparking mass protests.

American Citizens Held During Enforcement Action

A US congressman revealed during a news conference that four American citizens were taken into custody and kept for "nearly 24 hours" following the previous day's operation. Rallies occurred in the city on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Every New Yorker is entitled to live without fear," the attorney general wrote in a statement.

"Anyone who observed and recorded federal operations during the raid, I urge you to provide that material with my office. We are dedicated to assessing these accounts and investigating any wrongdoings."

Portal Features

The portal offers fields to submit visual evidence of the operation, as well as a section to specify location information. When submitting, submitters must check a option that acknowledges that "authorities might employ any evidence provided in a public document, such as in a court case or official statement."

Information about the Manhattan Operation

The Manhattan operation, which observers say involved dozens of government officers, occurred in a famous neighborhood of Manhattan where fake handbags, accessories, jewelry and merchandise are commonly traded en masse – frequently to tourists.

Footage of the operation reveal several hooded and equipped federal agents restraining and arresting a individual, and shoving away bystanders. Masses of locals trailed the personnel down the sidewalks. An military-style transport was also seen traveling down the city streets.

Political Response

During a Wednesday press conference organized with the rights organization, the congressman, a lawmaker, said that four American citizens were arrested by immigration for almost a full day and that there were "no situations where four American citizens should be arrested for no reason." He clarified the persons were freed on Wednesday with no charges filed.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not to take criminals off the street," Goldman remarked. "This is a military-style operation to incite tension. It is merely a pretext to provoke conflict for the government to bring in the armed forces to prevent unrest that they initiated."

Broad Criticism

Outrage over the ICE raid rapidly grew – each of the political contenders criticized the operation, as did the state leader.

"Once again, the federal government opts for authoritarian theatrics that instill panic, instead of protection. It must stop," a contender wrote.

The city's community groups voiced concern also.

"Immigration agents raided Chinatown in NYC with tactical trucks, hooded officers and protective equipment to focus on small merchants attempting to earn income. This raid had nothing to do with community security and focused completely on terrorizing immigrant families and communities," remarked the leader of a rights organization.

ICE Policies

Official guidelines bans the arrest of American nationals and the bureau has said it refrains from take into custody US citizens. Nevertheless, investigative journalism has discovered that over 170 US citizens have been taken illegally by ICE since the start of the present government.

Ongoing Trend

Enforcement actions have been becoming more common in the state and around the country recently.

A recent action in midtown Manhattan was the initial documented operation on an housing center of the existing leadership. Protests opposing immigration enforcement are ubiquitous along with accusations of violence and cruel conditions.

Most recently, a letter submitted by legal entities claimed medical neglect of pregnant women in government custody.