New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is intensifying his criticism of federal immigration enforcement following last week’s shooting in Marble Hill, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot Oscar Bergal while he was inside a vehicle with his 5-year-old son.
Speaking Sunday, October 11, Mamdani questioned the tactics used by federal officers and argued that their appearance during the operation made it difficult for ordinary New Yorkers to recognize them as law enforcement.
The mayor also renewed his call for ICE to leave New York City, saying the shooting has added to residents’ concerns about immigration enforcement and public safety.
“We are talking about individuals in construction vests and long guns,” Mamdani said during a television interview. He questioned how people walking through the city could distinguish such officers from other armed individuals.
What Happened During the Marble Hill Shooting?
The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon, October 8, near West 225th Street in the Marble Hill neighborhood. According to New York City officials, federal agents approached Bergal’s vehicle while attempting to arrest him.
Bergal, 28, was behind the wheel, with his young son in the back seat. During the encounter, an ICE officer fired seven rounds at the vehicle, striking Bergal in the neck, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Video released after the incident shows officers in civilian clothing approaching the vehicle with their weapons drawn. Federal officials maintain that the officers believed they were in danger when Bergal attempted to drive away.
Immigration officials said the vehicle moved toward government vehicles during the confrontation. They argued that the officers acted because they believed their lives and the safety of others were at risk.
The child was not injured. Bergal was taken to a hospital for treatment before being transferred into federal custody.
The conflicting accounts have intensified calls for a transparent investigation into the officers’ decisions and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Mamdani Says Federal Officials Must Answer Questions
Mamdani said he spoke with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for approximately two hours Thursday night in an effort to secure Bergal’s release.
According to the mayor, he raised concerns about whether there was an outstanding warrant for Bergal in New York City. He said the discussions did not resolve his concerns about the federal operation.
Mamdani also challenged what he described as federal officials’ use of allegations about criminal activity to defend the officers’ actions.
“They are making a mockery of what law and order is supposed to be,” the mayor said.
Mullin, meanwhile, defended the officers and accused Bergal of attempting to evade them. He argued that the driver’s actions created a dangerous situation, including the risk posed to the child in the vehicle.
The disagreement highlights the broader conflict between New York City officials and the Trump administration over how federal immigration laws should be enforced in the city.
Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation
The legal situation surrounding Bergal has also developed since the shooting.
On October 10, a federal judge issued a temporary order preventing the government from deporting Bergal. The order also restricts federal authorities from transferring him to a facility outside specified New York and New Jersey judicial districts without court approval.
Bergal’s attorneys have challenged his detention as they seek to address the circumstances surrounding his arrest and shooting.
Federal officials have said Bergal is a Dominican national who has a prior grand larceny conviction and connections to the Trinitarios gang. They have also cited previous arrests and pending narcotics-related allegations.
Court records indicate that Bergal was arrested in Manhattan in August 2025 in connection with allegations involving cocaine and fentanyl. Those allegations should be distinguished from a conviction, and the underlying criminal case remains relevant to the broader legal proceedings.
The temporary court order does not resolve the dispute over the shooting or determine whether the officers’ use of force was justified. It does, however, place limits on the federal government’s ability to deport or transfer Bergal while the legal challenge proceeds.
Calls for Transparency Grow After Video Release
The shooting has prompted criticism from elected officials, immigration advocates and people concerned about federal enforcement tactics.
One major question is how officers approached Bergal’s vehicle and whether their actions gave him a reasonable opportunity to understand who they were.
Newly released footage has provided additional details about the encounter, but questions remain about the sequence of events and the decisions that led to gunfire.
Mamdani has said he is working with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on a review of the incident. Federal officials have also defended the officers’ response, while calls for the release of additional body-camera footage have continued.
The case has drawn particular attention because a young child was inside the vehicle during the shooting. Although the boy was not physically injured, the incident has raised concerns about the potential consequences of enforcement operations conducted in busy residential areas.
The broader debate also reflects longstanding disagreements over New York City’s approach to immigration enforcement and the federal government’s efforts to detain people facing deportation.
What Happens Next?
The investigation and Bergal’s legal challenge remain central to the case. Further information about the officers’ actions, the available video evidence and the circumstances of the attempted arrest could help clarify the competing accounts.
For Mamdani, the shooting has reinforced his opposition to ICE operations in New York City. He has indicated that he intends to continue discussions with federal officials while pushing for changes to immigration enforcement in the city.
Federal officials, meanwhile, maintain that the officers were responding to a dangerous situation and acting within their training.
As the investigation continues, the central questions remain whether the use of force was justified, what the complete evidence shows and how authorities will address the concerns raised by city leaders and the public.
