ICE arrested 2,197 illegal migrants in New York between July 27 and Aug. 29 under an operation the Department of Homeland Security named “Operation Rotten Apple,” the agency announced Tuesday.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the arrests included drug traffickers, child rapists, and murderers, and that agents made them without any assistance from local or state police.
“Operation Rotten Apple did what sanctuary politicians in New York City and the state of New York refuse to do: made the Empire State safer,” Mullin said at a Tuesday press conference.
Among those arrested, according to a DHS press release, were Colombian national Andreas Bernal Chiquito, who has past arrests for sexually assaulting children; Palvinder Singh, an illegal migrant from India convicted of rape in Germany; and Carlos Mendez-Acosta, a Venezuelan migrant convicted of rape.
Mullin directed his frustration at New York Democrats who have continued passing laws shielding illegal alien criminals from deportation.
“We won’t let sanctuary politicians stand in our way. If you’re a state or local politician, your best bet is to cooperate with us so we can all make America safe again,” Mullin said.
State Democrats have moved in the opposite direction. Gov. Kathy Hochul backed the Local Crimes, Local Cop Act, which took effect Aug. 25 and forced county sheriffs to cancel their 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE while barring them from working with immigration authorities. Fifteen county sheriffs are now suing the state over the law.
New York City has added its own restrictions. In January, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a bill barring ICE from operating out of Rikers Island or any other city correctional facility.
Trump administration border czar Tom Homan also criticized the state’s approach.
“Democratic politicians in New York and elsewhere say that they care about public safety, but won’t let immigration law enforcement officers into their jails to take criminals into custody. Instead they release them to their streets,” Homan said. “It makes no sense.”
