In a major move to improve public safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and their law enforcement partners arrested 206 illegal immigrants in a special enforcement operation held in and around New York City between April 6 and April 12. This week-long action focused on arresting people with serious criminal records, especially those connected with violent gangs.
What Was the Operation About?
The operation was led by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in partnership with other major agencies like the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service. Their goal was to arrest criminal aliens—people living in the U.S. illegally who have committed dangerous crimes.
According to officials, many of the people arrested were involved in crimes such as murder, rape, drug trafficking, arson, assault, and sexual abuse of minors. Some were linked to international gangs like MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Sureños, and the 18th Street Gang, which are known for their violent activities in and around New York.
ICE Speaks on the Operation
Todd M. Lyons, the acting Director of ICE, said, “New York is much safer today because of the hard work of ICE and our law enforcement partners. We focused on the worst offenders, and the results show our commitment to public safety.”
Judith Almodovar, the Acting Field Office Director of ICE New York City, added that most of those arrested had serious criminal records, including crimes against children. She praised the dedication of her officers and the strong cooperation with partner agencies.
Where Did the Arrests Happen?
Although the main focus was New York City, the operation also included areas in Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley. Officers searched for and arrested individuals known to be involved in criminal activity. Some of those arrested had already been released by local authorities, even though ICE had requested to keep them in custody through immigration detainers.
Who Were Arrested?
Out of the 206 people arrested:
- 121 had previous serious criminal convictions or are currently facing charges.
- One individual was a foreign fugitive wanted in his own country.
- Another person had a homicide conviction from the Philippines.
These arrests are part of ICE’s broader mission to remove dangerous individuals from U.S. communities and prevent further crimes.
Why This Operation Matters
This enforcement action sends a strong message that the U.S. government is actively working to protect its communities from violent criminal activity. ICE has often faced challenges when local jurisdictions don’t cooperate by releasing individuals back into society even after ICE requests to keep them detained.
This latest effort shows that ICE and federal agencies are determined to track and arrest such individuals, even if they have already been released by local law enforcement.
The recent arrests by ICE and its federal partners show a strong commitment to community safety. Targeting dangerous criminal illegal immigrants and removing them from U.S. neighborhoods not only reduces crime but also helps keep innocent people safe. With more than 200 arrests in just one week, this operation reflects how serious the authorities are about preventing gang violence, drug crimes, and other serious offenses linked to undocumented offenders. As ICE continues these efforts, the public is reminded that safety and law enforcement go hand in hand.
