ICE Rounds Up Over 200 in NYC Crackdown on Violent Illegal Immigrants

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) joined forces with federal law enforcement agencies this month for what officials called an "enhanced immigration enforcement operation" in New York City and surrounding areas. The result? Over 200 people arrested in just one week—most carrying criminal records that would make even seasoned crime reporters blink twice.

ICE reported Wednesday that 206 illegal immigrants were detained from April 6-12 across NYC, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley. The agency highlighted that many of those taken into custody had "egregious criminal histories"—we're talking manslaughter, rape, drug trafficking, sexual assault against minors, and more. It’s a rap sheet that reads like the plot of a true crime docuseries.

The operation focused on so-called "egregious criminal alien offenders" and targeted members of notorious transnational gangs—MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, plus the Sureños and 18th Street gangs. These groups have long been on law enforcement's radar for violence and organized crime both in the U.S. and abroad.

According to ICE, many of those arrested had slipped through the cracks after local authorities in New York declined to honor ICE detainers. Translation: some of these suspects were released back onto the streets when ICE wanted them held for pickup. That friction between federal and local law enforcement isn't exactly new, but it certainly keeps things complicated.

Of the 206 arrested, 121 individuals had either major criminal convictions or were facing charges for serious crimes—everything from murder and arson to sex and drug offenses. Among them was 58-year-old Adnan Paulino-Flores, a Mexican national with convictions for sexual abuse of a vulnerable person, and 51-year-old Ecuadorian Jaime Gustavo Quizpi-Romero, who was arrested for assault with a weapon and strangulation. And that’s not even the end of the lineup—Luis Olmedo Quishpi-Poalasin, also from Ecuador, faced a laundry list of charges including rape, unlawful imprisonment, and threatening witnesses.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of Edimar Alejandra Colmenares Mendoza, a 22-year-old Venezuelan and a member of Tren de Aragua—a gang infamous for terror activities in the U.S., including high-profile murders and violent property takeovers. Mendoza is charged with conspiracy, larceny, and possession of stolen property.

Interestingly, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who’s now running for re-election as an independent, offered public support for ICE’s actions. Adams told Fox News that some far-left critics are mistaken to paint ICE as a villain, arguing, "They are part of our law enforcement community. We have to get bad, dangerous people off our streets." Not every day you hear a big city mayor sticking his neck out like that—especially in NYC.

Judith Almodovar, Acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York City, called the operation a success, underscoring the agency’s commitment to keeping violent criminals off the streets. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons added that New York is "much safer today" thanks to these arrests, and stressed that the agency will continue prioritizing public safety by removing the "most dangerous alien offenders" from communities nationwide.