🔗 Share this article NY Unveils Reporting Tool for Citizens to Report ICE Footage Following Arrests of 4 US Citizens New York state attorney general has launched a fresh online portal encouraging citizens to share photos and videos of immigration raids throughout the state. This action comes just a shortly after a significant ICE raid disrupted Manhattan's Chinatown, sparking mass outcry. US Citizens Held During ICE Operation A congressional representative announced during a news conference that four US citizens were detained and held for "about 24 hours" following Tuesday's raid. Protests erupted in NYC on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. "Each citizen is entitled to exist without intimidation," the AG wrote in a release. "If you witnessed and documented federal operations yesterday, I ask you to submit that evidence with my office. We are committed to assessing these accounts and investigating any wrongdoings." Form Details The form includes options to send photos and videos of the raid, plus a field to specify where it occurred. When submitting, submitters must mark a checkbox that acknowledges that "authorities might employ any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, such as in a legal proceeding or official statement." Information about the ICE Action The Chinatown raid, which witnesses say featured more than 50 ICE personnel, happened in a famous district of Manhattan where imitation products and other goods are sold daily en masse – typically to tourists. Recordings of the incident show multiple hooded and equipped federal agents restraining and arresting a man, and forcing aside witnesses. Throngs of residents trailed the agents along the roads. An armored military vehicle was noticed rolling through the urban roads. Political Response At a midweek briefing held with the rights organization, the congressman, a Democrat, stated that four American citizens were detained by ICE for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no situations where US citizens should be arrested for unjustly." He noted the citizens were let go on Wednesday with no legal action taken. "There's a clear purpose here. It is not to take criminals off the street," Goldman said. "This constitutes a militarized effort to incite tension. It is merely a excuse to generate turmoil for the government to bring in the troops to halt unrest that they initiated." Broad Criticism Anger over the ICE raid quickly spread – every NYC mayor hopefuls criticized the operation, including the state leader. "Once again, the current administration selects authoritarian theatrics that create fear, not safety. It must stop," one mayoral candidate stated. NYC advocacy organizations spoke out too. "ICE descended on Chinatown in NYC with military-style vehicles, masked agents and protective equipment to focus on street vendors working to survive. This operation had nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," stated the president of a major immigrant coalition. Official Guidelines ICE policy forbids the holding of citizens and the bureau has claimed it refrains from apprehend US citizens. Nevertheless, external research has revealed that over 170 citizens have been detained unlawfully by immigration authorities since the start of the existing leadership. Current Situation Enforcement actions have been becoming more common in the state and nationwide recently. A mid-October raid in the city center was the first known raid on an immigrant shelter of the existing leadership. Rallies against ICE are commonplace including claims of violence and inhumane treatment. Latest, a document submitted by advocacy organizations claimed inadequate care of women with child in government custody.