Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old undocumented migrant from the Dominican Republic, was shot by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an incident in the Bronx on Thursday. Authorities described him as having connections to the Trinitarios street gang and noted his past violent behavior, including threatening neighbors with a machete.
Belgal’s former neighbors expressed relief at his removal from the streets, citing concerns over his criminal history and behavior. “He’s a menace to society,” said one resident, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety reasons. The neighbor recounted an incident where Belgal allegedly brandished a machete during a dispute with another resident’s nephew, although no serious injuries occurred in that altercation.
Belgal was previously convicted of armed robbery in 2023 and faced drug charges last August involving fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Despite his history, he was released after the drug arrest due to New York’s sanctuary laws not honoring ICE’s requests for detention. He reportedly claimed he was not affiliated with any gang, though he remains charged in ongoing cases.
On Thursday, ICE agents attempted to apprehend Belgal as he was leaving a parking spot in a Honda CR-V on 225th Street. Marcos Charles, head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, stated that Belgal accelerated toward the agents, hitting two of them, which led to the use of firearms. Belgal was subsequently shot in the neck but is expected to recover. His 5-year-old son, who was in the vehicle at the time, was unharmed.
Following the shooting, protests emerged in Midtown Manhattan calling for “justice for Oscar Belgal” and demanding the abolition of ICE. Some community members expressed conflicting views about Belgal, highlighting a mix of surprise and familiarity with his troubled past. One neighbor noted, “He wasn’t a hard-working person; he was in the streets doing crazy things,” while a local barber expressed relief at his capture, emphasizing the danger Belgal posed to both his community and his family.
After being treated at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, Belgal was discharged and taken into ICE custody. He was transported to Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ, before being moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Friday.
