ICE NYC Criticizes Local Leadership for Immigration Policies

On Tuesday, ICE New York City expressed strong disapproval of the policies implemented by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zoran Mamdani, describing them as “reckless.” The agency has identified several criminal immigrants whom they’ve taken into custody, including individuals convicted of serious crimes like murder and child sexual offenses.

The individuals highlighted in the announcement hail from countries such as Jamaica, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Honduras. Their criminal records include horrific offenses ranging from murder and rape to sexual abuse of children under the age of 11, as well as other sexual crimes.

According to Kenneth Gennaro, the director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in the region, “While sanctuary politicians continue prioritizing criminal illegal aliens over law-abiding New Yorkers, our law enforcement officers are on the front lines every day protecting our communities from murderers, rapists, and pedophiles who prey on our most vulnerable citizens.” He further insisted that keeping New Yorkers safe from criminal illegal aliens is a top priority for his office.

Furthermore, Gennaro criticized Hochul and Mamdani for their policies, claiming they compromise public safety. The tension intensified following Hochul’s successful enactment of legislation to limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities, which prevents ICE agents from operating in most public spaces, like hospitals and parks.

This came on the heels of a troubling trend with Mamdani’s local policies, complicating cooperation between federal officials and local law enforcement with regard to immigration issues. ICE NYC stated, “New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has signed an executive order that essentially shields violent criminal illegal aliens and creates more potential victims.”

Just months into his tenure this January, the mayor implemented a new executive order aimed at bolstering sanctuary protections, arguing these moves are necessary to protect New Yorkers from what he termed the “abusive immigration crackdown” from the Trump administration. The agency noted that these actions align with Hochul’s legislative aims to restrict local police departments from working in tandem with ICE.

The recent arrests of illegal immigrants by ICE have uncovered crimes that include murder, rape, and other serious violations. The following individuals are among those in ICE custody:

• Mosiah Wright, a deported Jamaican national convicted of murder, has a lengthy criminal history that includes weapons possession and drug-related offenses.
• Jose Fuentes-Sarabia from El Salvador was convicted of sexual abuse involving a victim under the age of 11 and has a removal order.
• Vicente Mejia-Marquez, also from El Salvador, faced third-degree rape charges involving a minor.
• Jose Israel Chapa Flores, an Ecuadorian, was convicted of forcible touching and related child injury offenses.
• Blas Alberto Diaz, previously deported from El Salvador, was convicted of sexual contact without consent.
• Benjamin Quijada from El Salvador, charged with assault, is also wanted in connection with child sexual abuse in Maryland.
• Franklin Saul Vanegas Ceballos was convicted of drug possession and has pending charges for drug sale in New York.

All of these individuals are currently detained by ICE, awaiting immigration proceedings. The agency claims that, since January 20, 2025, approximately 6,947 criminal illegal aliens have been released in New York due to the state’s lack of response to ICE detainers. These detainers are crucial for enabling immigration authorities to deport convicted criminals.

The cited offenses for these criminal illegal aliens include 29 murders, 2,509 assaults, 199 robberies, and numerous drug and weapons crimes. As of December 1, the number of active ICE detainees in New York jails has reached 7,113, encompassing convictions for 148 murders and various other serious offenses.