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New York state attorney general has introduced a recent digital platform urging citizens to submit visual evidence of immigration raids across New York. This move comes just a shortly after a major immigration operation shook Chinatown in Manhattan, triggering mass protests.

US Citizens Detained During Enforcement Action

A US congressman announced during a news conference that four American citizens were detained and held for "nearly 24 hours" after the previous day's operation. Rallies broke out in the city on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Each citizen is entitled to reside free from terror," the AG stated in a release.

"If you witnessed and recorded federal operations recently, I urge you to submit that evidence with the authorities. We are dedicated to reviewing these submissions and evaluating any violations of law."

Submission Process

The form provides fields to send images and video footage of the incident, as well as a area to note geographic details. When submitting, submitters must mark a box that confirms that "the attorney general may use any documents, photographs, or videos in a public document, including in a court case or government document."

Details of the ICE Action

The Chinatown raid, which witnesses say featured more than 50 government officers, took place in a well-known area of Manhattan where imitation products and other goods are sold daily en masse – often to tourists.

Videos of the incident show numerous covered and weaponized officers securing and holding a person, and pushing back onlookers. Throngs of locals pursued the officers along the roads. An armored truck was noticed rolling through the urban roads.

Official Reactions

In a news conference featuring the New York immigrant rights coalition, congressman Dan Goldman, a lawmaker, said that four American citizens were taken by federal agents for almost a full day and that there were "no conditions where four American citizens should be taken for without cause." He said the citizens were freed on the following day with no accusations made.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not to take criminals off the street," he said. "This is a militarized effort to provoke unrest. It is simply a excuse to provoke conflict for the government to bring in the armed forces to halt violence that they have created."

Extensive Outcry

Outrage over the ICE raid rapidly grew – every political contenders criticized the operation, as did NY's governor.

"Repeatedly, the federal government chooses heavy-handed tactics that create fear, not safety. It has to end," a political candidate declared.

New York City immigrant rights groups expressed outrage too.

"Federal officers raided Chinatown in NYC with military-style vehicles, hooded officers and protective equipment to focus on small merchants working to survive. This action had no relation to citizen protection and focused completely on terrorizing immigrant families and neighborhoods," stated the leader of a rights organization.

Official Guidelines

Agency rules prohibits the arrest of American nationals and the organization has claimed it will not apprehend citizens. Nevertheless, independent reporting has discovered that over 170 US citizens have been held against their will by ICE during the period of the existing leadership.

Current Situation

Enforcement actions have been becoming more common in New York and across the US this year.

A recent action in the city center was the initial documented operation on an housing center of the existing leadership. Protests opposing federal operations are ubiquitous including accusations of violence and cruel conditions.

Latest, a document provided by civil rights groups stated healthcare failures of expectant mothers in detention centers.