Oscar Belgal, the criminal illegal alien who was shot by ICE last week as he tried to flee federal agents, was known in his Washington Heights apartment building as a "menace to society." Belgal, who also has ties to the violent Trinitarios street gang, would routinely engage in unhinged outbursts while living in the building, including one incident where he pulled a machete on another resident's nephew.
'Criminal illegal' migrant shot by ICE tormented NYC apartment building with machete, neighbor claims: 'Menace to society' https://t.co/FGiGLjQ8R9
— New York Post (@nypost) October 10, 2026
He claimed Belgal — who the feds believe slipped into the US with a migrant caravan in 2022 without encountering border patrol — whipped out the massive blade during a fight with the man outside the building last year. No one was seriously injured in the squabble, he added.
Belgal’s rap sheet includes a 2023 armed robbery conviction and an August 2025 arrest for allegedly selling lethal drugs like fentanyl, cocaine and heroin.
Those cases were not bail-eligible — so Belgal was sprung after his arrest, though prosecutors were granted the highest level of “supervised release,” sources have said. He reportedly told officials he was not in a gang, and has pleaded not guilty in that case, which remains open.
ICE demanded local authorities hand him over after the 2025 arrest, but the request was not honored because of New York’s sanctuary laws.
Agents first tried to arrest Belgal in September but he evaded capture, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Incredible. None of Belgal's former neighbors are sad to see him go.
Any comment @NYCMayor ?@TheDemocrats ? @RepJeffries ? @aoc?
— The Constitutional Conservative (@TheCCShowcast) October 10, 2026
Yeah, Zohran Mamdani is mad ICE removed this criminal from the neighborhood.
He’ll be invited to City Hall soon.
— @Matthew Betley (@MatthewBetley) October 11, 2026
Would anyone be surprised if Gov. Hochul decided to issue a pardon in an effort to protect Belgal from deportation?
No.
Lefty hero update https://t.co/cSOabgO9c7
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) October 10, 2026
The Left always picks the worst possible people to elevate as martyrs.
This is who Mamdani and Hochul begged Trump to put back on the streets while they trashed law enforcement officers who he attacked with a vehicle. https://t.co/t5FSsXj9UU
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) October 11, 2026
Why do people keep voting for Democrats, knowing they love guys like Belgal and hate the ICE agents who keep our community safe?
Democrats want everyone to know this guy MUST be back on the street immediately and they will crawl across broken glass to make it happen. https://t.co/1qW2f6tepa
— Hon. Vickie Paladino (@VickieforNYC) October 11, 2026
Democrats hate you. They don't even hide it.
This criminal had an armed robbery conviction and is currently facing drug dealing charges. But NYC refused to hand him over during those arrests.
— AG (@AGHamilton29) October 11, 2026
Even worse, NYC Mayor Mamdani demanded that ICE end all enforcement in NYC and release this criminal in response to the shooting. https://t.co/GB21C65qbh
That's not going to happen.