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New York Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier told Twitch streamer Hasan Piker on Saturday that it “doesn’t even matter” that a man wounded in a shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer had a criminal record.
Chevalier’s comments came after Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old Dominican Republic national who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says is in the country illegally, was shot by an ICE officer during a targeted operation to arrest him. DHS said Belgal refused to comply with officers’ lawful orders.
Piker and Chevalier took issue with both New York and federal authorities highlighting Belgal’s criminal history, arguing that his past crimes did not justify the use of force.
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Oscar Belgal (right) was shot during a targeted operation to arrest him last week. (Left: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images; Right: WNYW.)
During the encounter, Belgal pulled his vehicle forward before at least one officer fired seven rounds, striking him below his left ear, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference near the shooting scene late Thursday. Tisch also said Belgal had two prior arrests, including for robbery and the criminal sale of a controlled substance.
According to DHS, Belgal has a prior grand larceny conviction and previous arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession, and weapons possession. Federal authorities also said he has ties to the notorious Trinitarios street gang.
“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.
“You know, I was just so angry as I was listening to it,” Chevalier said. “I have gone back to her remarks to make sure that I was correct in our statement about it. But to me, it doesn’t even matter, right? It doesn’t even matter.”
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Darializa Chevalier criticized the NYPD’s response to the ICE shooting. (Darializa for Congress)
Piker further said that even if Belgal committed violent crimes like murder, it would not justify the ICE shooting. Chevalier also criticized Tisch for attempting to “villainize” Belgal.
“Police Commissioner Tisch came out, and I understand that it is her role to provide more information, and that is why she comes to these press conferences. But 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.
Fox News Digital reached out to Chevalier’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
An NYPD spokesperson told 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.”
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Progressive politicians like Chevalier attacked ICE for its role in a recent New York shooting. (Getty Images)
The New York State Republican Committee criticized Chevalier’s comments, calling them “further proof” that the Democratic Party has fallen.
“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,” NY GOP communications director David Laska told Fox News Digital. “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.”
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“Americans will remember when we cast our ballots in November,” he added.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.