Mullin calls Mamdani's anti-ICE rhetoric 'dangerous' following New York shooting

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Friday pushed back on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who had lambasted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the agency on Thursday opened fire on a suspect driving a car with his child also in the vehicle. 

Mamdani said on Thursday that ICE has "killed far more of our neighbors than they could ever have claimed to save," reiterating his call to abolish the agency.

"His words are dangerous and incite hostility," Mullin said during a Friday press conference. "Well mayor, if you abolish ICE," who will "take criminals off the streets of your own town?"

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Oscar Belgal, the individual shot by ICE, refused to get out of his vehicle and then ran into two government vehicles, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles said during the press conference on Friday.

The man "refused lawful orders to exit his vehicle," Charles said. "He then accelerated his vehicle, smashing into two of our government ICE vehicles and then weaponized his vehicle and proceeded to accelerate going towards other officers." 

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He "evaded law enforcement before when we attempted to arrest him in September," Charles noted.

Mullin explained that authorities were not aware there was a child in the vehicle at the time of the incident, but pointed out that "Oscar knew he had a child in his car."

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The shooting sparked unrest outside the hospital where officers had rushed Belgal. Police said they took five people into custody on allegations including harassment, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Mullin said Belgal, who is from the Dominican Republic, entered the U.S. illegally and has since perpetrated "crime after crime." He criticized the mayor for not speaking up after a New York City police officer was stabbed by two illegal immigrants last week. 

"Both had extensive criminal backgrounds. Did the mayor of New York say anything about that? Did the individuals that are in the streets demanding justice for this criminal that we picked up yesterday? Did anybody come out for the officer that was stabbed seven times by these criminals? Not a word was said. Not a word was said by the mayor. Not a word was said by the governor. Not a word was said by the individuals that supposedly want justice on their streets," Mullin said. 

"Our job is to enforce the nation's laws and go after the worst of the worst. And our men and women do a damn good job at it every single day. And we will not stop doing our job," Mullin added.