Bryan Steil

Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., told Newsmax on Friday that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's call to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reflects a broader Democratic Party push to defund police, casting the dispute as a public safety issue before the midterm elections.

Steil, chairman of the Committee on House Administration, defended federal officers after Thursday's shooting of Oscar Belgal, 28, during an attempted immigration arrest in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood.

"And what we see in these protests is a continuation of the left's push to defund police," Steil said on "National Report."

He directed his criticism at the Democratic Socialists of America, accusing its members of supporting policies that undermine public safety.

"They want open borders, want to defund police, and don't support public safety," he said.

"And so, this is a reminder … what's at stake at this election between the commonsense principles of conservatives who stand with the men and women of law enforcement and the crazy radicals that we continue to see dominate leftist politics," Steil said.

Belgal was shot in the neck while in a car with a 5-year-old boy, according to The Associated Press. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at least one federal officer fired seven rounds. The child was unharmed, and city police were not involved in the operation.

Mamdani called for ending immigration enforcement operations in the city. He said he unsuccessfully sought Belgal's release in calls with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Federal officials defended the shooting Friday, saying Belgal refused to leave his car, struck two immigration enforcement vehicles, and drove toward officers. Mullin said officers did not know the child was inside. Body camera footage had not been released.

Officials said Belgal, a Dominican national in the country illegally, has a grand larceny conviction that led to five years' probation in April 2025. He remained detained outside New York state, according to Reuters.

Asked about Mamdani's efforts to secure Belgal's release, Steil portrayed the episode as part of a wider ideological agenda.

"Well, what it actually does is it just shows a pattern that Democrats want to abolish prisons. I mean, this is in the DSA platform in so many ways between defunding police and ultimately abolishing prisons," he said.

"And so, although it's shocking when you see it on TV, it's not shocking for those of us that have been in the trenches working against the socialist policies that continue to be advanced by people like my opponent here in Wisconsin or the mayor of New York, or the broader DSA platform nationally," Steil said.

Steil also pointed to a House resolution condemning socialism and criticized Democrats who opposed it.

The House approved the resolution Sept. 1, 220-192. Eight Democrats joined Republicans and one independent in support, while 192 Democrats opposed it, and two voted present.

"And so this is a broader push between those that support law enforcement and those individuals that want to defund police," Steil said.

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