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New York state attorney general has launched a recent online portal urging locals to share photos and videos of federal immigration enforcement throughout New York. This move follows a day after a high-profile ICE raid disrupted Chinatown in Manhattan, triggering mass demonstrations.

US Citizens Detained During Enforcement Action

A congressional representative revealed during a Wednesday press conference that four US citizens were arrested and kept for "nearly 24 hours" after Tuesday's raid. Rallies occurred in NYC on consecutive evenings.

"Each citizen is entitled to reside free from terror," the AG wrote in a statement.

"For those who saw and captured immigration enforcement during the raid, I encourage you to share that material with my office. We are pledged to assessing these reports and determining any legal breaches."

Portal Features

The portal offers spaces to upload photos and videos of the incident, along with a area to specify location information. Before submitting, users must mark a option that acknowledges that "authorities might employ any documents, photographs, or videos in a official report, such as in a legal proceeding or official statement."

Details of the ICE Action

The Chinatown raid, which witnesses say included dozens of federal agents, happened in a famous neighborhood of Manhattan where imitation products and additional items are commonly traded widely – typically to visitors.

Recordings of the operation show multiple covered and weaponized officers securing and holding a individual, and pushing back witnesses. Throngs of New Yorkers trailed the personnel along the roads. An armored truck was observed traveling down the Manhattan avenues.

Political Response

In a midweek briefing featuring the rights organization, congressman Dan Goldman, a Democratic representative, announced that four American citizens were taken by federal agents for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no conditions where nationals should be taken for no reason." He noted the individuals were released on the following day with no accusations made.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not focused on deporting lawbreakers," the congressman stated. "This represents a militarized effort to incite tension. It is purely a justification to provoke conflict for federal officials to bring in the armed forces to halt conflict that they themselves caused."

Broad Criticism

Anger over the federal action escalated – all three NYC mayor hopefuls condemned the raid, including NY's governor.

"Once again, the Trump administration opts for heavy-handed tactics that generate terror, rather than security. It has to end," a contender stated.

New York City advocacy organizations expressed outrage as well.

"ICE descended on Chinatown in NYC with tactical trucks, masked agents and riot gear to go after small merchants attempting to earn income. This raid had no relation to community security and everything to do with terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," said the leader of a advocacy group.

ICE Policies

ICE policy forbids the holding of citizens and the bureau has claimed it does not take into custody American nationals. Yet, independent reporting has found that more than 170 US citizens have been held against their will by ICE since the beginning of the existing leadership.

Recent Pattern

Immigration operations have been cropping up increasingly in NY and across the US this year.

A recent action in the city center was the initial documented operation on an housing center of the current administration. Rallies against ICE are ubiquitous including allegations of aggression and inhumane treatment.

Most recently, a submission filed by legal entities alleged medical neglect of expectant mothers in detention centers.