New York City Mayor Eric Adams responded strongly to criticism over recent immigration enforcement activity in the city, asserting that “ICE is not a criminal organization.” His remarks come in the wake of a major federal operation that led to the arrests of more than 200 undocumented immigrants, many of whom were found to have committed serious crimes after entering the U.S. unlawfully.
“ICE is not a criminal organization. ICE is a law enforcement organization,” Adams said, as reported by NBC4 New York. “I cooperate with law enforcement organizations on public safety.”
Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, working alongside other federal entities, carried out a sweeping operation across the New York City area. Authorities detained 206 individuals without legal immigration status, including several with past convictions for violent or drug-related crimes, according to the report.
“New York is much safer today because of the hard work of ICE and our law enforcement partners,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons in a statement. “Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around the city of New York. Our efforts resulted in 206 arrests in just one week.”
Speaking to Fox News, Adams, who is seeking another term in office, rejected the notion that ICE should be vilified. “One of the big mistakes that’s being made in some parts of the far-left philosophy is that ICE is a criminal organization. They are not, they are part of our law enforcement community,” he said. “We have to get bad, dangerous people off our streets.”
Fox News also shared specific details from ICE about the backgrounds of some of those taken into custody during the operation. Of the 206 individuals apprehended, 121 were either convicted of or currently facing charges including homicide, assault, arson, immoral offenses, drug trafficking, and weapons violations.
Among those arrested was 58-year-old Adnan Paulino-Flores, a Mexican national living illegally in the U.S., who had been previously charged with sexually abusing someone unable to consent and engaging in non-consensual sexual contact.
Another individual, Jaime Gustavo Quizpi-Romero, a 51-year-old Ecuadorian national, had a record that included assault with a weapon, strangulation, and inflicting serious bodily harm.
The head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York praised the joint effort, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding communities. “The success of this enhanced operation highlights the resolve of ICE and our federal partners in keeping our country safe from violent criminal aliens.”
Lyons reiterated ICE’s commitment to public safety: “Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around the city of New York. ICE remains dedicated to our mission to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from communities throughout this great nation.”
{Matzav.com}