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New York state AG has rolled out a fresh online portal urging residents to submit photos and videos of federal immigration enforcement around New York. This move follows a day after a high-profile enforcement action shook Manhattan's Chinatown, sparking large-scale protests.

US Citizens Held During Raid

A congressional representative announced during a midweek briefing that four citizens were arrested and detained for "almost a full day" following the enforcement action. Demonstrations erupted in NYC on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

"All New York residents is entitled to reside free from terror," the attorney general stated in a announcement.

"For those who saw and documented immigration enforcement recently, I ask you to submit that footage with us. We are pledged to assessing these submissions and determining any violations of law."

Portal Features

The portal includes spaces to submit visual evidence of the incident, along with a field to note geographic details. Before submitting, submitters must check a option that states that "authorities could utilize any documents, photographs, or videos in a legal proceeding, including in a court case or government document."

Information about the Chinatown Raid

The enforcement action, which witnesses say featured more than 50 government officers, took place in a famous district of Manhattan where fake purses, items, goods and other goods are sold daily in large quantities – typically to sightseers.

Videos of Tuesday's raid show numerous covered and weaponized federal agents securing and holding a person, and shoving away witnesses. Throngs of residents followed the agents along the roads. An armored military vehicle was observed moving along the Manhattan avenues.

Leadership Statements

During a midweek briefing organized with the rights organization, the congressman, a lawmaker, said that four US citizens were taken by federal agents for about 24 hours and that there were "no situations where nationals should be detained for unjustly." He said the citizens were freed on Wednesday with no legal action taken.

"There's a clear purpose here. It is not focused on deporting lawbreakers," Goldman stated. "This represents a militarized effort to provoke unrest. It is simply a pretext to provoke conflict for this administration to bring in the troops to halt conflict that they themselves caused."

Extensive Outcry

Outrage over the federal action rapidly grew – each of the political contenders criticized the incident, along with the state leader.

"Repeatedly, the federal government chooses authoritarian theatrics that create fear, rather than security. It needs to cease," a contender wrote.

New York City community groups voiced concern as well.

"Federal officers descended on Chinatown in NYC with armored transports, covered personnel and protective equipment to focus on small merchants attempting to earn income. This action had nothing to do with citizen protection and everything to do with intimidating residents and communities," said the president of a advocacy group.

ICE Policies

Official guidelines bans the arrest of American nationals and the organization has said it refrains from take into custody citizens. Nevertheless, independent reporting has found that over 170 American nationals have been taken illegally by ICE since the start of the existing leadership.

Recent Pattern

Immigration operations have been rising in frequency in the state and nationwide lately.

A mid-October raid in central NYC was the earliest reported action on an immigrant shelter of the current administration. Demonstrations opposing immigration enforcement are widespread including accusations of force and abusive practices.

Recently, a document submitted by civil rights groups alleged healthcare failures of pregnant women in ICE facilities.