New York has refused to hand over more than 16,000 criminal illegal aliens to Immigration and Customs Enforcement since President Trump returned to office, according to Department of Homeland Security data released Monday.
The figures show that from January 20, 2025 through October 8, 2026, New York declined to honor 16,070 ICE detainers lodged against illegal aliens who had been charged or convicted of crimes.
Those 16,070 individuals carry more than 52,000 criminal charges and convictions between them, including murder, kidnapping, sex crimes, drunk driving, burglary, robbery, weapons offenses, drug possession, and assault, DHS said.
“While sanctuary politicians continue to release dangerous criminals onto their streets, our brave law enforcement officers will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make America safe again,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. “Illegal aliens have no sanctuary in America.”
Mullin placed the blame squarely on New York’s political leadership.
“We enforce these laws with no help from Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul,” Mullin said. “The Trump administration is committed to protecting the American people in every city and every state, and 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.”
The release of the data comes a week after two illegal aliens from the Dominican Republic were accused of stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer. Both men had been released into the United States under the Biden administration and had previously been arrested by the NYPD, but DHS said they were let out of jail before ICE could lodge a detainer against them. Both remain at large.
