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New York state attorney general has introduced a new digital platform urging residents to provide photos and videos of ICE operations across New York. This move follows a day after a high-profile immigration operation shook NYC's Chinatown, triggering widespread outcry.

US Citizens Held In Raid

A US congressman disclosed during a news conference that four citizens were taken into custody and detained for "almost a full day" after the enforcement action. Demonstrations broke out in NYC on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Each citizen is entitled to live without fear," the AG declared in a release.

"For those who saw and recorded ICE activity during the raid, I urge you to share that footage with my office. We are pledged to examining these accounts and investigating any legal breaches."

Portal Features

The platform offers fields to upload photos and videos of the raid, along with a area to indicate where it occurred. Prior to sending, individuals must check a checkbox that confirms that "the office could utilize any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, such as in a lawsuit or official statement."

Details of the Chinatown Raid

The Manhattan operation, which observers say involved dozens of ICE personnel, took place in a popular area of NYC where counterfeit handbags, accessories, jewelry and merchandise are sold daily in large quantities – typically to visitors.

Footage of Tuesday's raid reveal multiple hooded and equipped personnel securing and holding a man, and forcing aside witnesses. Crowds of residents followed the agents down the sidewalks. An armored military vehicle was noticed rolling through the Manhattan avenues.

Official Reactions

At a Wednesday press conference organized with the New York immigrant rights coalition, the congressman, a Democratic representative, stated that four nationals were detained by ICE for about 24 hours and that there were "no circumstances where US citizens should be detained for no reason." He clarified the individuals were released on Wednesday with no charges filed.

"The intent is obvious here. It is not to take criminals off the street," he remarked. "This is a militarized effort to create conflict. It is purely a justification to provoke conflict for this administration to deploy the military to stop unrest that they have created."

Extensive Outcry

Anger over the federal action rapidly grew – each of the mayoral candidates criticized the raid, as did Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Repeatedly, the federal government selects heavy-handed tactics that create fear, rather than security. It has to end," one mayoral candidate stated.

NYC immigrant rights groups expressed outrage as well.

"ICE descended on Chinatown in NYC with armored transports, covered personnel and tactical gear to focus on small merchants attempting to earn income. This operation had no connection to public safety and everything to do with terrorizing immigrant families and communities," remarked the president of a advocacy group.

Official Guidelines

Official guidelines prohibits the holding of citizens and the organization has said it does not take into custody American nationals. However, independent reporting has revealed that more than 170 US citizens have been taken illegally by immigration authorities since the start of the current administration.

Current Situation

Enforcement actions have been cropping up increasingly in the state and across the US this year.

An October operation in midtown Manhattan was the initial documented operation on an housing center of the existing leadership. Demonstrations against ICE are widespread including claims of aggression and cruel conditions.

Most recently, a document submitted by civil rights groups claimed medical neglect of women with child in detention centers.