On Thursday, federal agents shot and apprehended a man described as a “criminal illegal alien” in the Bronx, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security. This incident occurred during a law enforcement operation when he allegedly attempted to ram into them while having his young son with him in the vehicle.
Democrats and certain media outlets quickly condemned the shooting of 28-year-old Dominican national Oscar Bengal, suggesting it was unwarranted or even terroristic in nature. They portrayed Bengal, whose deportation was temporarily halted by a judge appointed by Obama, as a misunderstood music lover akin to a “New Yorker.”
There’s a sense that political allies are backing a foreign individual with a troubling criminal past. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement intelligence, Bengal was part of a caravan that reportedly sought to exploit the Biden administration’s lenient border policies, sneaking into the U.S. at an unknown place and time.
Once in New York, Bengal allegedly continued to engage in illegal activities. In 2023, he was arrested and faced numerous charges, including robbery, weapon possession, and larceny, ultimately pleading guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny, leading to a five-year probation sentence. Notably, he was released before ICE could act on his status.
Later, in August 2025, Bengal was arrested again for allegedly selling fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin to an undercover officer multiple times. Court documents revealed he was indicted in December on various drug-related charges.
A representative from the New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office mentioned that at the time of his shooting last week, he was on supervised release for his drug charges, with a court date scheduled for December 2.
Bengal also had ongoing criminal charges related to assault and robbery and had faced multiple protection orders. He is reportedly an associate of the Trinitario street gang based in the Bronx.
On September 18, attempts were made by ICE to arrest Bengal in the Bronx, but he fled, leading to a temporary disengagement by ICE for public safety reasons.
Bengal’s Latest Encounter
When ICE officers managed to identify Bengal driving on Thursday, they conducted a vehicle stop. During the stop, Bengal allegedly rammed into the ICE vehicles, giving officers cause for alarm, which prompted one agent to fire, grazing Bengal’s neck.
According to ICE officials, Bengal ignored orders to exit his vehicle and instead, accelerated and rammed into two ICE vehicles, endangering the officers. The response from ICE was framed as necessary for their safety and public welfare.
At the time of the incident, his child was with him in the car. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized Bengal for endangering his child during the confrontation, stating that cautionary measures were in place due to the anticipated tensions during the arrest.
Bodycam footage from the New York Police Department subsequently showed Bengal receiving medical assistance before being transported to a hospital for what was deemed a superficial injury.
Public Backlash
Following the shooting, protests erupted outside New York Presbyterian Allen Hospital, with demonstrators expressing outrage towards ICE and blocking federal agents from exiting the facility. Protests escalated over the following hours and days, fueled by narratives suggesting the shooting was unjustified and targeted an innocent “New Yorker.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was quick to issue a condemnation on social media, calling the situation “unconscionable” and demanding an end to ICE enforcement actions in the city. He expressed his concerns for Bengal’s recovery, referring to him as a New Yorker.
Mamdani, who initially sought to negotiate Bengal’s release, later expressed anger over ICE’s actions, citing the risk to Bengal’s child during the encounter with law enforcement. Other local officials, including Council member Carmen De La Rosa, criticized ICE, insinuating that no actions could warrant such a response.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also expressed outrage, hinting that it was ICE’s actions, rather than Bengal’s criminal history, that endangered the child, as she mentioned wanting to comfort the family affected by the shooting.
In the wake of the incident, left-wing groups labeled the shooting as a troubling example of the terror instigated by ICE within communities. Some political figures even attempted to frame Bengal’s aggressive actions in evading law enforcement as self-defense.
The broader media narrative framed Bengal as a friendly individual in the community, highlighting the discrepancies in his criminal history and portraying him sympathetically.
