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The state AG has rolled out a fresh reporting form encouraging locals to provide photos and videos of immigration raids around the state. This step comes just a day after a major immigration operation rattled Manhattan's Chinatown, triggering mass demonstrations.

US Citizens Detained During Enforcement Action

A congressional representative revealed during a news conference that four American citizens were detained and kept for "about 24 hours" following the previous day's operation. Protests occurred in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

"Each citizen is entitled to reside free from terror," state officials declared in a release.

"If you witnessed and documented federal operations during the raid, I encourage you to provide that material with my office. We are dedicated to examining these submissions and determining any legal breaches."

Portal Features

The form provides fields to send visual evidence of the operation, along with a section to specify location information. When submitting, users must check a checkbox that states that "the office might employ any documents, photographs, or videos in a public document, including in a lawsuit or official statement."

Information about the ICE Action

The Chinatown raid, which witnesses say involved over fifty ICE personnel, took place in a popular district of Manhattan where counterfeit products and additional items are sold daily in large quantities – frequently to tourists.

Recordings of the incident depict several hooded and equipped officers securing and holding a person, and pushing back onlookers. Throngs of locals trailed the personnel through the streets. An armored truck was noticed traveling down the Manhattan avenues.

Official Reactions

At a Wednesday press conference organized with the rights organization, the congressman, a lawmaker, said that four US citizens were detained by ICE for nearly 24 hours and that there were "no circumstances where US citizens should be taken for without cause." He said the citizens were let go on the following day with no accusations made.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not about removing offenders," he said. "This constitutes a militarized effort to create conflict. It is purely a justification to generate turmoil for federal officials to bring in the military to stop violence that they have created."

Widespread Condemnation

Outrage over the immigration operation escalated – all three mayoral candidates criticized the incident, as did Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Yet again, the current administration selects oppressive displays that create fear, rather than security. It has to end," one mayoral candidate declared.

NYC immigrant rights groups expressed outrage as well.

"ICE descended on Chinatown in NYC with tactical trucks, hooded officers and protective equipment to focus on small merchants trying to make a living. This operation had nothing to do with public safety and was entirely about terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," remarked the leader of a rights organization.

ICE Policies

ICE policy forbids the holding of citizens and the agency has said it does not take into custody US citizens. However, independent reporting has revealed that more than 170 US citizens have been taken illegally by federal agents since the beginning of the current administration.

Ongoing Trend

Immigration operations have been rising in frequency in New York and around the country recently.

A mid-October raid in midtown Manhattan was the earliest reported action on an housing center of the present government. Protests against ICE are commonplace as are allegations of force and inhumane treatment.

Latest, a submission submitted by civil rights groups stated medical neglect of pregnant women in ICE facilities.