Blakeman tells Styles to put ICE-shooting migrant on tour bus

New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman told singer Harry Styles to take Oscar Belgal, a migrant shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, on his tour bus. Blakeman made the comments on Tuesday during an appearance on Fox & Friends, describing Styles as an out-of-touch elitist for paying tribute to Belgal during a Madison Square Garden concert.

Styles, who is performing a 30-night residency at Madison Square Garden, honored Belgal during a show. Belgal, a 28-year-old from the Dominican Republic, was shot by ICE agents on Thursday while his 5-year-old son was in the back seat of the car. The singer asked the audience to remember Belgal and look after one another.

Blakeman criticized the tribute, arguing that illegal immigrants with prior convictions should be deported rather than defended by celebrities. He stated that Belgal is a convicted criminal alleged to be involved in gang activity and drug dealing. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Belgal has previous arrests for assault, robbery, drug possession, and weapons possession. Federal officials also alleged ties to the Trinitarios street gang.

Senior ICE official Marcos Charles defended the officers during a Friday news conference, explaining that they opened fire after Belgal allegedly refused to comply during a targeted arrest operation. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson also criticized Styles in a statement to Fox News Digital, suggesting that law enforcement advice should not be taken from a man who dresses in women’s clothes while hiding behind armed private security.

Blakeman, who is in the final weeks of his campaign for New York governor, argued that celebrities are insulated from the consequences of immigration policies. He claimed that criminals like Belgal would move into neighborhoods with Hispanic, Latino, Asian-American, African-American, and Caribbean populations, potentially hurting those communities. Fox News Digital reached out to Styles for comment.

The dispute occurs as New York leaders continue to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have opposed these efforts. According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 16,000 ICE detainers have not been honored by New York since January 2025. Mamdani characterized the agency as fundamentally corrupt. Blakeman labeled Hochul out-of-touch and charged that her immigration stance endangers residents.

Belgal is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn with a bullet lodged in his neck. His legal team said he is enduring deplorable conditions at the facility.