Tom Homan, the White House border czar, announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will increase its presence in New York City, specifically targeting the five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Homan stated that this decision follows a promise made to Governor Kathy Hochul regarding immigration enforcement in the city. He indicated that the operational plan to deploy more ICE agents is nearing implementation.
Homan noted that the operation may exclude the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, which would mark a departure from previous operations where both agencies collaborated. He highlighted that approximately 450,000 illegal immigrants are believed to reside in New York City as of 2023, according to an analysis by the Center for Migration Studies of New York.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed opposition to ICE's enforcement actions, stating that such raids are cruel and do not enhance public safety. He also mentioned that he believes ICE should be abolished. This comes as New York City has been classified as a sanctuary jurisdiction, limiting local cooperation with ICE on immigration enforcement.
Homan's comments were made in the context of ongoing discussions between state and federal officials regarding immigration policies and enforcement strategies in New York.