Bronx leaders call for Target boycott following ICE-involved shooting in Marble Hill
The demonstration comes days after an ICE agent shot and wounded a Bronx father during an enforcement operation involving a vehicle carrying a 5-year-old child, according to organizers.
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Local elected officials and community advocates are calling for a boycott of Target following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent-involved shooting in Marble Hill that left a Bronx father wounded while his 5-year-old child was inside the vehicle.
City and state leaders rallied outside the Target on West 225th Street Tuesday, raising concerns over reports that federal immigration agents have been using the shopping center’s parking lot as a staging area for enforcement operations.
Just one day before the shooting, local elected officials sent a letter to Target and the property’s owners questioning whether ICE had been authorized to use the lot.
Following the shooting, the Bronx City Council delegation issued another letter calling on Target to prohibit the use of its property for ICE staging operations and demanding an independent investigation.
“This was a known fear that the community had. And tragically, on Thursday, that fear was realized,” said City Comptroller Mark Levine.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams urged New Yorkers to boycott the retailer until it takes further action.
“Do not shop at Target, New Yorkers, until they come to us and show us what they’re going to do to protect us,” Williams said.
In a statement to News 12, Target said, “Target has no cooperative agreement with ICE or any immigration enforcement agency.”
The company also said it cannot interfere with authorized law enforcement activity and noted that multiple businesses share the parking lot.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security defended its immigration enforcement efforts, with Secretary
Markwayne Mullin criticizing sanctuary policies and saying federal agents would continue making arrests.
Advocates say they will continue pressing Target to explicitly oppose the use of the parking lot as a staging area for immigration enforcement operations.
