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New York state attorney general has introduced a recent digital platform urging residents to provide visual evidence of immigration raids around New York. This action comes just a day after a high-profile enforcement action rattled NYC's Chinatown, prompting mass protests.

US Citizens Held During Raid

A lawmaker disclosed during a midweek briefing that four American citizens were taken into custody and detained for "almost a full day" after the previous day's operation. Rallies occurred in NYC on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

"All New York residents deserves to exist without intimidation," the attorney general declared in a release.

"Anyone who observed and captured federal operations during the raid, I encourage you to provide that evidence with the authorities. We are pledged to examining these accounts and determining any legal breaches."

Portal Features

The form provides options to upload images and video footage of the operation, along with a field to note location information. Before submitting, individuals must check a box that confirms that "the attorney general may use any materials, images, or footage in a legal proceeding, including in a court case or public report."

Details of the ICE Action

The enforcement action, which witnesses say featured over fifty ICE personnel, occurred in a well-known area of the city where fake products and other goods are commonly traded en masse – often to tourists.

Videos of the operation reveal multiple hooded and equipped federal agents zip-tying and detaining a man, and shoving away onlookers. Crowds of residents followed the agents down the sidewalks. An military-style transport was noticed moving along the Manhattan avenues.

Official Reactions

At a news conference featuring the rights organization, the congressman, a Democrat, announced that four US citizens were taken by federal agents for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no conditions where nationals should be arrested for without cause." He said the persons were released on the following day with no charges filed.

"The goal is evident here. It is not to take criminals off the street," he stated. "This represents a armed campaign to create conflict. It is merely a excuse to incite violence for this administration to deploy the troops to stop unrest that they have created."

Widespread Condemnation

Outrage over the federal action quickly spread – all three political contenders criticized the raid, as did NY's governor.

"Repeatedly, the Trump administration selects authoritarian theatrics that create fear, rather than security. It must stop," one mayoral candidate stated.

NYC community groups expressed outrage too.

"ICE descended on Chinatown in NYC with military-style vehicles, covered personnel and riot gear to target local sellers working to survive. This operation had no relation to public safety and focused completely on intimidating residents and communities," remarked the president of a major immigrant coalition.

ICE Policies

Agency rules prohibits the arrest of American nationals and the agency has said it will not arrest or detain American nationals. However, investigative journalism has discovered that numerous American nationals have been detained unlawfully by federal agents since the beginning of the present government.

Ongoing Trend

ICE raids have been rising in frequency in New York and nationwide recently.

An October operation in central NYC was the initial documented operation on an refuge facility of the existing leadership. Rallies opposing ICE are ubiquitous including allegations of force and inhumane treatment.

Recently, a document provided by advocacy organizations stated inadequate care of pregnant women in government custody.