Operation Rotten Apple: ICE arrests over 2,100 in New York, says Homeland Security Secretary
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more than 2,100 people living in the S. illegally across New York during the past 30 days as part of Operation Rotten Apple, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced Tuesday.
Mullin said the arrests included alleged gang members, rapists, murderers and child predators. "That's the worst of the worst," he said at a news conference.
"These individuals should never have been on our streets," Mullin said, accusing New York sanctuary policies of protecting people in the country illegally while ICE officers are "out there every day protecting Americans."
Mullin also criticized New York sanctuary politicians, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and claimed the state had released more than 13,000 criminal defendants despite ICE detainer requests. "Before you put them back on the streets, let us deport them," Mullin said. "No, they released 13,000."
He said Operation Rotten Apple focused on those released despite detainer requests and that ICE's work would continue. "We targeted those 13,000," Mullin said. "That's where we got these 2,100, and we're not done. We're still moving forward."
Mullin singled out several cases, including a Ukrainian national with convictions that he said included kidnapping, weapons possession and murder; an Indian national convicted of rape in Germany; and a Colombian national arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting a child.
A separate account from Fox News detailed the case of a 39-year-old Indian national with an INTERPOL red notice for an alleged rape charge in Germany, and a 50-year-old Ukrainian citizen with a criminal history including kidnapping, abduction, possession of a weapon and murder. Mullin said these individuals were roaming New York's streets because of the city's and state's sanctuary policies.
Mullin also criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to end 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement agencies to work with ICE on immigration enforcement. "All we're trying to do is get the criminals off our streets," Mullin said.
According to Fox News, Mullin said the federal government is willing to send more federal agents into New York, and he quoted the mayor of New York City as saying ICE raids are "cruel, inhumane and do nothing to protect public safety."
"Department of Homeland Security, we don't make the laws. That's Congress's job," Mullin said. "But we will do everything to enforce those laws."
Mullin's announcement comes amid ongoing federal efforts to ramp up immigration enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions, where local policies limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.