At Campos Law Firm, we closely monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy to protect our clients’ rights and future. On October 8, 2026, two stories broke about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shooting people inside their vehicles: a man wounded in New York and a federal claim over the death of a Mexican father near Chicago.
Both cases remain open. Here we separate what is confirmed, what each side claims, and what you can do.
What Happened in Marble Hill, New York?
Around 4 p.m., ICE agents tried to arrest Oscar Belgal, 28, in Marble Hill, a Manhattan neighborhood that borders the Bronx. According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, police cameras captured a federal agent and a plainclothes officer approaching the driver’s window; the vehicle then moved forward and, based on the evidence collected, at least one agent fired seven rounds.
Belgal was shot in the neck and was in stable condition. His five-year-old son was in the back seat and was not hurt. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are handling the investigation, according to EFE.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says Belgal is from the Dominican Republic, was in the country without legal status, refused to get out of the car, and used his vehicle as a weapon against agents. It also alleges ties to the Trinitarios gang and a criminal record. That is the agency’s account: on its own, it does not prove the shooting was lawful, which is what investigators are examining.
Governor Kathy Hochul called for transparency and the release of body camera footage. Mayor Zohran Mamdani tried to negotiate Belgal’s release with President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, without success. According to DHS, Belgal was moved to a detention facility outside New York State.
What Is Silverio Villegas González’s Family Claiming?
Villegas González, a 38-year-old Mexican man, was killed on September 12, 2025, in Franklin Park, Illinois, shortly after dropping his two children off at school and daycare. DHS said at the time that he drove at agents and that one was dragged and “seriously injured.” The family says that account is false: in his body camera video, the agent describes his injuries as “nothing major.”
On October 8, attorneys from the MacArthur Justice Center and the National Immigrant Justice Center filed an administrative claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) against DHS, ICE, and the FBI. They allege he was shot downward into the left side of his neck at close range, not from in front of the vehicle, and that his death was preventable. The Illinois State Police has been investigating since May 2026 and has not released findings.
What Is an FTCA Claim, and What Happens Next?
The FTCA allows people to seek damages from the federal government for wrongful acts by its employees. Before suing, the law requires filing a claim with the agency, generally within two years of the events. The agency has six months to respond; if it denies the claim or does not answer, the family can go to federal court.
The claim is not a ruling: it opens the step before a possible lawsuit. Another family, Renee Good’s in Minneapolis, has already taken its case to court, as we explain in this article about their lawsuit.
What Can You Do If You Witness or Face an Operation Like This?
- If you are stopped in your car: stop the vehicle, turn off the engine, and keep your hands visible. Do not accelerate or try to drive away, even if you are afraid. You have the right to remain silent and not to sign documents.
- If you are a witness: in general, you may record agents in public places from a safe distance, without interfering.
- If someone is hurt: get medical care and keep medical records, photos, and witness names.
- If a family member was harmed: talk to an attorney soon; claim deadlines are strict and evidence disappears.
ICE recently banned vehicle pursuits; we explain what changes for traffic stops.
Protect Your Rights with Campos Law Firm
Knowing your rights during an enforcement operation can protect your life and your case. Our immigration attorneys, with offices in Colorado, Utah, Oregon, and Indiana and virtual service in Florida, can guide you and your family if an operation affected you. Campos Law Firm is here to help you.
Do not leave your immigration status to chance. Call us today at +1 (844) 922-6767 to schedule a free, confidential consultation in English or Spanish. Campos Law Firm: Legal Solutions in All Areas of Law.
With information from EFE, ABC7 New York, CBS New York, CBS Chicago, WTTW, and the MacArthur Justice Center.
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