ICE officer shoots, injures illegal migrant during targeted enforcement operation in NYC

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer discharged his weapon Thursday during a targeted enforcement operation in New York, hitting and injuring an illegal migrant who was the focus of the stop.

ICE confirmed the incident, which happened in the Bronx, in a statement on X. The agency said the migrant, who was originally from the Dominican Republic, is alive and at a local hospital.

The agency claimed the illegal migrant had a prior criminal conviction for grand larceny, and multiple arrests for assault, robbery, possession of drugs, and weapons possession. He was also allegedly associated with the Trinitarios gang.

"This criminal illegal alien was arrested by the NYPD on December 7, 2023, but was released into the community a few days later by reckless Democrat sanctuary policies that put American lives at risk," ICE said in the post. "When dangerous illegal aliens are released back onto the streets by radical sanctuary politicians, our officers are forced to make arrests at large in the community in unpredictable and dangerous environments. 

"Our officers should not have to risk their lives, and innocent Americans should not have to face unnecessary danger, because sanctuary politicians refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement," the statement added.

The incident comes just weeks after another ICE officer injured an illegal alien in Austin, Texas, last month. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the Venezuelan was living in the U.S. illegally, and had a final order of removal.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.