NY Candidate: Victim's Criminal Record Irrelevant in ICE Shooting

New York Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier stated on Saturday that the criminal record of a man shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) "doesn't even matter." Chevalier made the comments during a livestream with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.

The incident involved Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old national of the Dominican Republic, who was shot by an ICE officer during an operation to arrest him. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Belgal refused to comply with officers' orders and advanced his vehicle, prompting at least one officer to fire seven rounds.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Belgal had two prior arrests, including for robbery and the criminal sale of a controlled substance. DHS also reported that Belgal has a previous grand larceny conviction and prior arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession, and weapons possession, as well as ties to the Trinitarios street gang.

Chevalier and Piker criticized authorities for highlighting Belgal's criminal history, arguing that his past actions did not justify the use of force. "What is the rap sheet for this person that Jessica Tisch is alleging is this criminal, and that the ICE apprehension was valid from that perspective?" Piker asked. Chevalier responded, "You know, I was just so angry as I was listening to it... But to me, it doesn’t even matter, right? It doesn’t even matter."

Chevalier also accused Commissioner Tisch of attempting to "villainize" Belgal. "Rather than condemn ICE, rather than condemn the shooting or the events that had just taken place, she started to villainize Oscar, right? Villainize him, and, by extension, villainize anyone who was in his position," Chevalier said.

The New York State Republican Committee criticized Chevalier's remarks. "The facts of this case are clear: an illegal immigrant and known gang member resisted arrest and was met with lawful use of force from our brave ICE agents," said David Laska, NY GOP communications director. "The new face of the Democratic Party went on a podcast hosted by a radical who believes America deserved 9/11 to openly side with the illegal immigrant gang member — further proof that today’s Democratic Party is extremist and anti-American to its core."

An NYPD spokesperson defended the commissioner's statements, telling Fox News Digital, "The Police Commissioner was giving a factual update on the incident, and we always provide criminal history in incident updates, if we have it. It’s also one of the first questions that every media outlet asks the NYPD."