In light of recent events, an executive connected to the Ultraviolet Venezuelan Gang, Tren de Aragua, has indicated that numerous immigrants are reportedly involved in criminal activities in New York City shelters, following notable incidents with the NYPD.
Statistics reveal that from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024, a total of 3,219 immigrants residing in 48 shelters were arrested 4,884 times.
The most prevalent offenses included theft, with 1,285 incidents, followed by assault at 544, and drug-related crimes at 497.
Additionally, during the same timeframe, crimes documented within 1,000 feet of these shelters reached 16,371, with over 3,200 immigrants listing these shelters as their primary addresses.
The total number of migrants in shelters across the city was over 24,000 as of January 1, 2023, which then surged to above 59,000 by October 31, 2024, even peaking at more than 69,000 at one point.
Currently, the cumulative number of immigrants in all city shelters stands at approximately 39,500.
As per the NYPD’s response, they have yet to comment on these findings.
The issue of crime involving undocumented immigrants drew significant attention when, recently, the NYPD confirmed that two officers were assaulted by known teenage members of the Tren de Aragua gang in Times Square.
Of the 11 suspects, five, all believed to be illegal immigrants from Venezuela, were arrested in connection with this incident.
Notably, the youngest suspect in this assault was merely 12 years old. Reports also mentioned that at least two suspects were picked up by immigrant parents, with one facing charges as an adult in the related riot.
The teenage gang member is linked to a subgroup called Los Diablos de 42, known to police since 2022 for various robberies.
Many of these individuals had prior incarceration records but were released due to the city’s lenient juvenile crime policies, according to NYPD commissioner Jessica Tish.
