Marble Hill Protester Charged With Assaulting Federal Agent at Anti-ICE Rally

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charged Liberty Martin, 42, of the Bronx, with one count of physically assaulting a federal employee, stemming from an incident during protests that erupted after an ICE agent shot Oscar Belgal — a Dominican immigrant — in Marble Hill on October 8, 2026. According to prosecutors, Martin grabbed and ripped the clothing of a Homeland Security Investigations agent, then with others in the crowd pushed the agent against his vehicle, shoved him inside, and slammed the door on him, causing a 2-inch cut on the agent's forehead. Martin faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. The Marble Hill shooting had sparked large demonstrations including a rally of over 1,000 protesters at Foley Square demanding ICE leave New York City. Belgal was shot in the neck as ICE officers attempted to arrest him while he was parking his car; he survived. Mayor Mamdani condemned both the ICE operation and violence at protests.