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New York state attorney general has introduced a new reporting form encouraging citizens to provide images and footage of ICE operations throughout New York. This step comes just a shortly after a major enforcement action rattled Manhattan's Chinatown, sparking large-scale outcry.

American Citizens Detained In Enforcement Action

A lawmaker announced during a midweek briefing that four US citizens were arrested and detained for "almost a full day" following Tuesday's raid. Protests erupted in New York on consecutive evenings.

"All New York residents deserves to exist without intimidation," the AG stated in a statement.

"For those who saw and recorded federal operations during the raid, I encourage you to share that material with my office. We are pledged to assessing these accounts and determining any wrongdoings."

Form Details

The form offers spaces to submit photos and videos of the operation, along with a section to indicate location information. Before submitting, individuals must mark a box that states that "the office might employ any evidence provided in a public document, including in a legal proceeding or official statement."

Details of the Chinatown Raid

The enforcement action, which observers say featured more than 50 federal agents, took place in a popular neighborhood of NYC where imitation purses, items, goods and other goods are regularly available in large quantities – often to tourists.

Footage of Tuesday's raid show several masked and armed federal agents zip-tying and detaining a person, and pushing back bystanders. Crowds of New Yorkers followed the officers down the sidewalks. An armored truck was observed rolling through the city streets.

Leadership Statements

During a midweek briefing held with the immigrant advocacy group, congressman Dan Goldman, a lawmaker, stated that four US citizens were arrested by immigration for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no circumstances where nationals should be arrested for no reason." He clarified the citizens were freed on the following day with no legal action taken.

"The goal is evident here. It is not to take criminals off the street," the congressman remarked. "This constitutes a armed campaign to provoke unrest. It is simply a pretext to incite violence for federal officials to bring in the military to stop violence that they have created."

Widespread Condemnation

Outrage over the ICE raid escalated – each of the political contenders criticized the raid, along with the state leader.

"Once again, the Trump administration chooses authoritarian theatrics that generate terror, rather than security. It needs to cease," one mayoral candidate wrote.

The city's community groups expressed outrage too.

"ICE descended on Manhattan's Chinatown with armored transports, hooded officers and riot gear to focus on small merchants trying to make a living. This raid had nothing to do with citizen protection and was entirely about terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," stated the president of a rights organization.

Official Guidelines

ICE policy forbids the arrest of American nationals and the agency has stated it refrains from take into custody US citizens. However, independent reporting has discovered that more than 170 US citizens have been held against their will by ICE since the start of the current administration.

Ongoing Trend

Immigration operations have been becoming more common in New York and nationwide recently.

A recent action in midtown Manhattan was the initial documented operation on an immigrant shelter of the present government. Rallies opposing ICE are widespread along with claims of violence and inhumane treatment.

Most recently, a document submitted by legal entities stated inadequate care of pregnant women in government custody.