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The state AG has rolled out a fresh reporting form encouraging residents to provide photos and videos of immigration raids around New York. This action comes just a shortly after a significant enforcement action disrupted NYC's Chinatown, prompting large-scale outcry.

US Citizens Held In Raid

A US congressman announced during a Wednesday press conference that four US citizens were taken into custody and held for "nearly 24 hours" after the enforcement action. Protests occurred in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

"Each citizen has the right to live without fear," the attorney general declared in a announcement.

"Anyone who observed and captured immigration enforcement during the raid, I urge you to provide that evidence with us. We are dedicated to assessing these reports and evaluating any violations of law."

Form Details

The form offers options 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 states that "the office may use any evidence provided in a public document, such as in a legal proceeding or public report."

Information about the Manhattan Operation

The enforcement action, which observers say included more than 50 government officers, took place in a famous neighborhood of the city where fake purses, items, goods and merchandise are commonly traded en masse – typically to tourists.

Recordings of Tuesday's raid show multiple covered and weaponized personnel securing and holding a person, and forcing aside witnesses. Masses of residents pursued the agents down the sidewalks. An military-style transport was observed rolling through the urban roads.

Official Reactions

During a Wednesday press conference held with the rights organization, congressman Dan Goldman, a lawmaker, said that four American citizens were detained by ICE for about 24 hours and that there were "no conditions where four American citizens should be detained for unjustly." He said the persons were released on Wednesday with no charges filed.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not focused on deporting lawbreakers," Goldman said. "This is a militarized effort to incite tension. It is purely a excuse to incite violence for the government to bring in the armed forces to prevent unrest that they themselves caused."

Extensive Outcry

Fury over the federal action escalated – each of the political contenders condemned the raid, as did the state leader.

"Yet again, the Trump administration opts for authoritarian theatrics that create fear, rather than security. It needs to cease," a contender stated.

NYC community groups spoke out too.

"Immigration agents targeted Manhattan's Chinatown with armored transports, masked agents and protective equipment to target local sellers working to survive. This operation had nothing to do with community security and focused completely on terrorizing immigrant families and communities," stated the leader of a major immigrant coalition.

Agency Rules

Agency rules prohibits the detention of US citizens and the bureau has said it refrains from arrest or detain American nationals. Nevertheless, investigative journalism has revealed that numerous American nationals have been held against their will by federal agents since the start of the present government.

Current Situation

Immigration operations have been cropping up increasingly in the state and across the US recently.

A mid-October raid in the city center was the earliest reported action on an refuge facility of the current administration. Protests targeting immigration enforcement are commonplace along with claims of force and cruel conditions.

Latest, a submission provided by civil rights groups alleged healthcare failures of women with child in government custody.