DHS Debunks NYC Sanctuary Claims Following ICE Arrest and Shooting of Gang Member
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a statement rejecting claims made by New York sanctuary politicians regarding an immigration enforcement operation in the Bronx. Federal officials detailed that an ICE officer discharged a weapon during the attempted arrest of Oscar Bengal, a criminal illegal alien and gang member from the Dominican Republic, after the target rammed government vehicles and accelerated toward personnel.
Federal Officials Target Dominican Gang Member in The Bronx
On October 8, at approximately 4:00 PM ET, ICE officers conducted a targeted enforcement operation in the Bronx to arrest Oscar Bengal. Bengal holds a criminal history that includes a conviction for fourth-degree grand larceny. He also carries prior arrests for first-degree robbery, criminal sale of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property, and assault. In April 2025, he was sentenced to five years of probation. Federal investigators connected Bengal to the Trinitarios gang, the same gang linked to the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer last year.
Vehicle Ramming Triggers Officer-Involved Shooting
Officers blocked Bengal’s vehicle during the operation, but he refused lawful orders to exit the automobile. Instead, he accelerated and smashed into two government vehicles before turning his vehicle toward other law enforcement personnel. Officers discharged their weapons. Bengal sustained a superficial bullet or fragment wound to the neck. He was arrested, given first aid, and transported to a hospital. Because of his criminal record and history of evading law enforcement, ICE subsequently transferred him to a detention facility outside New York. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations arrived at the scene shortly afterward, and the incident remains under investigation.
Dhs Directs Sharp Rebuke at Sanctuary Policies and Local Claims
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin condemned local officials for creating an environment that protects criminal activity. “Sanctuary politicians create an environment for criminal activity to thrive, not for American citizens to be safe,” Mullin stated. Following the incident, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani asserted that a New Yorker was shot in Marble Hill and claimed that agents concealed their identities. Federal officials debunked those assertions, clarifying that the target is a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic and the subject of a targeted enforcement action. ICE Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles emphasized that Bengal refused direct orders and weaponized his vehicle against officers.
Nearly Fifteen Thousand Detainers Ignored Across New York State
The confrontation unfolds against a backdrop of widespread non-compliance with federal immigration detainers. According to federal data released alongside the report, New York state authorities failed to honor 14,916 ICE detainers between January 20, 2025, and September 14, 2026. Those unhonored detainers connect to 47,750 total criminal charges and convictions, including 96 homicides, 114 kidnappings, 448 sexual assaults, 1,407 DUIs, 1,438 burglaries, 1,586 robberies, 1,987 weapons offenses, 3,842 dangerous drugs, and 8,673 assaults. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order shielding criminal illegal aliens, while Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation in May 2026 that barred local police departments from partnering and cooperating with ICE law enforcement. The investigation into the shooting remains active.