Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced the detention of more than 200 migrants who entered the U.S. illegally during a recent operation in the New York City area.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons stated that last week’s operation “targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods.”
The total number of individuals arrested during this sweep stands at 206.
Among those apprehended was a 22-year-old member of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, discovered at a building located on Dekalb Avenue in the Bronx, according to law enforcement sources.
“New York is much safer today because of the hard work of ICE and our law enforcement partners,” Lyons commented.
ICE reported that of the 206 people taken into custody, 121 had significant criminal convictions or were currently facing charges for various serious offenses including murder, assault, arson, sex crimes, drug crimes, and firearms crimes.
Judith Almodovar, Acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York City, stated, “The majority of the aliens arrested have egregious criminal histories to include manslaughter, rape, assault, drug trafficking and sex assault against minors.”
ICE has yet to respond to inquiries from CBS News New York regarding the criminal records of the remaining 85 individuals apprehended.
In response to the arrests, protests erupted outside ICE’s headquarters in Foley Square.
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized on Thursday that the city is prohibited from collaborating with ICE for civil enforcement.
However, he conveyed strong support for the arrest of dangerous gang members, declaring, “I don’t know why we want to romanticize what dangerous gangs are. They’re dangerous gangs, and we’re going to do everything possible to collaborate with federal officials to remove these dangerous gangs off our streets.”
He cited a particular case involving an undocumented individual who allegedly raped a 14-year-old child, stating, “I’m not on his side. I’m on the side of justice to go after him.”
The timing of these arrests coincided with national protests for a “Communities Not Cages” day of action, highlighting opposition to the Trump administration’s increased detentions and deportations.
Protesters outside ICE’s Foley Square headquarters expressed their anger towards the administration’s actions, specifically mentioning the arrests of Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.
Both students at Columbia University who had green cards, Khalil and Mahdawi were prominent figures in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.
“It’s really concerning when people get taken off the streets without due process,” remarked Adam Brown, a professor at Hunter College.
He added, “I brought my kids here because I wanted them to see what democracy looks like.”
In related news, the Department of Homeland Security has begun sending Notices of Termination Parole to individuals in the U.S. illegally but without criminal histories.
The notices indicate, “Your parole will terminate seven days from the date of this notice … If you do not depart the United States immediately, you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions … Do not attempt to remain in the U.S. — the federal government will find you.”
Michael Wildes, an immigration attorney and former federal prosecutor, criticized this approach, labeling the rhetoric as “very harsh.”
He stated, “They’re looking for gimmicks and this whole thing is a gimmick.
At this level, if the administration continues with about 12-1,500 people a day, the president will have removed about two and a half million people.
There’s about 30 million people here. It’s still a drop in the bucket.”
Wildes also revealed that one of his clients, who is currently in the U.S. for cancer treatment and is married to an American, received a termination notice from Homeland Security.
“It’s very disconcerting to our clients who were given some form of hospitality to immediately be told that they have to leave,” he said.
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