Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was joined by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials for Tuesday's announcement in Lower Manhattan.
Mullin said the 2,197 detentions, which happened between July 27 and August 29, occurred "with no help" from NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani or New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Officials listed the following among those detained:
- Bogdan Detrovich Gren, a Ukrainian national with criminal convictions for kidnapping, abduction resulting in death, criminal possession of a weapon, and murder;
- Andreas Bernal Chiquito, a Colombian national with past arrests for sexual conduct against a child and injuring a child less than 17;
- Palvinder Singh, an Indian national convicted of rape in Germany;
- Carlos Mendez-Acosta, a Venezuelan migrant convicted of rape.
"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 in a statement. "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 cited the state's recently passed law barring local partnership agreements with federal civil immigration.
Gov. Hochul said any numbers coming out of the Trump administration should be questioned.
She asked why the federal government is focusing on civil enforcement if Trump promised to "only go after the worst of the worst, the baddest of the bad."
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, issued this response to today's announcement:
Unsurprisingly, Secretary Mullin provided fact-free remarks today that ranged from outright fabrications to exaggerated claims designed to undermine the well-documented research that clearly shows that sanctuary cities and states increase public safety. Mullin specifically used this press conference to target and deride NYS Governor Hochul for ending 287(g) agreements in NYS, and attack Mayor Mamdani and our 'socialist city.' He also complained about the 'intimidation' faced by armed ICE agents from community members who simply use their voices to lawfully protest the agency's tactics and stand with their immigrant neighbors. As the Trump administration continues to face enormous public resistance to ICE's violent tactics, this press offensive seemed to serve only as a platform for their litany of grievances and self-aggrandizement. This is a desperate attempt by a desperate administration to sway public opinion, undermine our local laws, and disparage our elected officials. New Yorkers can see through the lies and will not be conned so easily.
In Nassau County, both police and sheriff officers previously had agreements with ICE.
Nassau police deputized 10 detectives to assist ICE with civil immigration enforcement efforts, and the sheriff's department is holding thousands of detainees for ICE at their East Meadow jail.
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