Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 2,197 people in New York between July 27 and Aug. 29 as part of an operation the Department of Homeland Security called “Operation Rotten Apple,” the agency announced Tuesday.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters at a press conference that the operation targeted illegal migrants, including some with convictions or arrests for serious crimes. DHS said those taken into custody included Colombian national Andreas Bernal Chiquito, who has past arrests for sexually assaulting children; Palvinder Singh, an illegal migrant from India convicted of rape in Germany; and Carlos Mendez-Acosta, a Venezuelan migrant convicted of rape.
Mullin said the arrests were made without assistance from local or state 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.
“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,” he added.
State and city policies limit cooperation
New York has taken steps in recent months that restrict local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, signed the Local Crimes, Local Cop Act, which took effect Aug. 25. The law required county sheriffs across the state to cancel their 287(g) agreements with ICE and bars them from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Fifteen county sheriffs have since sued the state over the measure.
In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a bill in January barring ICE from operating out of Rikers Island or any other city correctional facility.
Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, criticized New York officials over the policies.
“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.”
DHS has not released additional details on how many of those arrested in the operation had criminal convictions versus civil immigration violations.
