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New York state AG has introduced a recent reporting form urging residents to submit visual evidence of federal immigration enforcement across the state. This action follows a day after a major enforcement action disrupted Manhattan's Chinatown, triggering large-scale demonstrations.

US Citizens Held In ICE Operation

A US congressman announced during a news conference that four US citizens were arrested and held for "nearly 24 hours" following the enforcement action. Demonstrations erupted in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

"Every New Yorker is entitled to exist without intimidation," the attorney general stated in a announcement.

"If you witnessed and documented federal operations yesterday, I encourage you to provide that material with my office. We are pledged to assessing these submissions and investigating any violations of law."

Submission Process

The portal provides fields to send visual evidence of the operation, plus a field to indicate where it occurred. Before submitting, submitters must check a option that confirms that "the office may use any materials, images, or footage in a public document, such as in a lawsuit or public report."

Details of the Manhattan Operation

The enforcement action, which witnesses say featured dozens of government officers, took place in a famous district of NYC where fake purses, items, goods and merchandise are regularly available en masse – often to tourists.

Recordings of Tuesday's raid reveal several masked and armed officers zip-tying and detaining a individual, and forcing aside onlookers. Throngs of residents pursued the personnel through the streets. An military-style transport was also seen traveling down the Manhattan avenues.

Official Reactions

During a Wednesday press conference held with the New York immigrant rights coalition, congressman Dan Goldman, a lawmaker, stated that four American citizens were taken by federal agents for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no situations where nationals should be detained for unjustly." He noted the citizens were let go on Wednesday with no charges filed.

"The goal is evident here. It is not focused on deporting lawbreakers," he said. "This represents a military-style operation to incite tension. It is purely a justification to generate turmoil for this administration to deploy the troops to prevent conflict that they initiated."

Extensive Outcry

Outrage over the federal action rapidly grew – all three NYC mayor hopefuls criticized the operation, along with NY's governor.

"Yet again, the federal government selects heavy-handed tactics that create fear, rather than security. It needs to cease," a contender declared.

The city's immigrant rights groups voiced concern too.

"ICE targeted the neighborhood with tactical trucks, masked agents and protective equipment to focus on local sellers attempting to earn income. This operation had no relation to citizen protection and focused completely on terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," said the head of a major immigrant coalition.

Official Guidelines

ICE policy prohibits the holding of citizens and the agency has claimed it does not arrest or detain citizens. Yet, external research has discovered that over 170 American nationals have been detained unlawfully by federal agents during the period of the existing leadership.

Ongoing Trend

ICE raids have been cropping up increasingly in New York and around the country this year.

A mid-October raid in central NYC was the earliest reported action on an immigrant shelter of the existing leadership. Demonstrations against ICE are commonplace along with claims of force and inhumane treatment.

Latest, a document provided by civil rights groups alleged healthcare failures of expectant mothers in ICE facilities.