New York attorney general seeks footage of ICE enforcement actions

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Attorney General Letitia James launched an online portal for New Yorkers to submit photos and video of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. The push for information follows an ICE raid on Canal Street in New York City on Tuesday, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

ICE is the federal agency under the Department of Homeland Security that enforces laws on border control, customs, trade, and immigration. The agency arrests and removes individuals who undermine community safety and the integrity of immigration laws, according to the agency. They enforce over 400 statutes, investigate transnational crime, and preserve public safety. Requests for comment on the Federal Action Reporting Form from the AG’s office were unanswered by ICE as of press time.

James encouraged New Yorkers to share the footage so her office can assess whether officers broke the law. “Every New Yorker has the right to live without fear or intimidation,” she said, specifically asking for content from the Canal Street incident. “No one should be subject to unlawful questioning, detention, or intimidation,” she said.

The new portal is live on the AG’s website. It clarifies that filing a complaint doesn’t initiate a lawsuit on behalf of the person filling out the form. Nor can the AG’s office offer legal advice or representation in court. Contact a lawyer with questions about your legal rights.

“ICE has continued to escalate its attacks against our immigrant communities, partially because they believe they will face no consequences,” said Democratic State Senator Julia Salazar chairs the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, who applauded the portal and argued that ICE agents are not above the law. “I will continue to call on my colleagues to pass anti-ICE legislation, but I also call on all New York agencies and offices to do everything within their power to protect New Yorkers from ICE.”

The form gives the filer 2,000 characters to describe what happened, where, and when. Filers have to attest that their complaint and any documents they attach are true and accurate. False statements can be worth a class A misdemeanor. In that case, a conviction could be worth up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

The form collects basic contact information: full name, address, phone number, email. etc. You don’t have to have been present during the incident to fill out the form and file a complaint, but it does question whether any other legal actions with a court or complaints with another agency were already filed. Filers are also supposed to submit contact information for an attorney or representative, if they have one. Providing these details should help the AG’s office follow up with filers to confirm necessary information, if necessary.

The portal accepts up to five images, and filers can submit links to videos uploaded to third-party sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. It also includes an optional field for race or ethnicity. The AG’s office will keep that information confidential “to the extent permitted by law.” Still, they might use anything submitted in public reports or legal proceedings.

“When the Trump administration deploys ICE agents to New York City streets, they are still required to respect New Yorkers’ rights and follow our laws,” said Perry Grossman, a supervising attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union. He encouraged anyone who witnessed or captured footage of ICE arrests or intimidation to fill out the form. “No one is safe when federal agents operate without transparency or accountability,” he said.