U.S. immigration authorities carried out raids in Upper Manhattan and The Bronx following the Trump administration’s push for mass deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives visited three locations in the borough: Ogden Avenue, Devoe Terrace and Creston Avenue on Jan. 28.
The result of the first high raid by authorities was the detention of Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco.
Zambrano-Pacheco, 26, was part of a group of men, which included members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, who entered an apartment in Aurora, Colorado last summer, according to authorities.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he coordinated the NYPD with M federal authorities for this operation.
“As I have repeatedly said, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice–just as we have done for years,” Adams said.
“Our commitment to protecting our city’s law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem, who joined federal officials on Jan. 25, said she planned operations with the mayor “four or five times” before the detentions.
“I talked to him four or five times last night about what we were doing, our operations, how they could support us,” she said.
“We also need these sanctuary city laws to be lifted so we can use the full authorities, that when we bring up these people, when we capture them, that we can prosecute them and we can truly get them out of this country.”
ICE arrested 1,179 people on Jan. 25, NBC reported.
While 613 of the total apprehended were considered criminal arrests, the rest were nonviolent offenders. Instead, they lacked legal migration status in the U.S.
According to President Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan, “collateral arrests” are expected.
Although Homan remarked that the top priority for the mass deportation plan would target criminals and gang members, he emphasized that every immigrant should worry even if they don’t have criminal charges.
“When we find him, he’s going to be with others … [and] if they’re in the country illegally, they’re coming too,” Homan explained.
Homan shared that the federal government won’t be able to deport every immigrant lacking permanent status in the U.S.
ICE currently doesn’t have enough funding from Congress to detain all immigrants as the Trump administration expects.
The “success is going to be based on what Congress gives us,” Homan said.
“I’m being realistic,” he continued. “We’re going to try to be efficient. But the more money we have, the more we can accomplish.”
As immigration officials continue their operations in multiple locations in New York City, non-profit organizations like the New York Immigration Coalition shared tips to help inform immigrants of how to exercise their rights.
Identify immigration agents: Pay attention to the words on their uniforms, this could be ICE, ERO or HSI.
You have the right to record: if you feel safe, take photos or videos of what the officers are doing and note how many.
Share verified information with your community.
While fear among the immigrant community rises, followed by President Trump signing the Laken Riley Act—which requires the determined n of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes—the New York City Council will provide $2 million in funding for dozens of immigrant advocacy groups throughout the city.
“We will stand together against hate and attacks that seek to divide us. We know that more support is needed for the community organizations defending and serving our neighborhoods during this very pivotal time,” NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said.
