Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 2,197 illegal immigrants across New York between July 27 and Aug. 29 in an operation the Department of Homeland Security named “Operation Rotten Apple,” the agency announced Tuesday.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, speaking at a press conference, said the arrests were carried out entirely without assistance from state or local police agencies.
“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.
DHS said those taken into custody included people with serious criminal histories. Among those named: Colombian national Andreas Bernal Chiquito, who has past arrests for sexually assaulting children; Palvinder Singh, an Indian national convicted of rape in Germany; and Carlos Mendez-Acosta, a Venezuelan national convicted of rape.
Mullin directed pointed criticism at New York Democrats for laws he said shield illegal immigrants with criminal records 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 and city push back on cooperation
New York’s Democratic leadership has moved in the opposite direction. Gov. Kathy Hochul backed the Local Crimes, Local Cop Act, which took effect Aug. 25. The law requires county sheriffs to end their 287(g) agreements with ICE and prohibits them from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Fifteen county sheriffs are now suing the state over the measure.
New York City has taken similar steps. In January, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed legislation 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.”
