Over 58,000 Illegal Migrants With Criminal Backgrounds Are Living In NYC, ICE Says

Nearly 58,000 illegal migrants who have criminal backgrounds are currently residing in New York City.

“It’s shocking that Democrats have gone so far out of their way to harbor gang members, drug traffickers and other criminals who are in our country illegally,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-New York) told the New York Post.

Malliotakis’ comments came after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency data acquired by the Post showed 58,626 of the 759,218 illegal immigrants living in New York City were previously convicted of a crime, had criminal charges pending, or 7.7% of the city’s illegal migrant population. Of the 58,626 criminal migrants, 1,153 are “suspected or known gang members,” the report then stated.

“In many cases, they’ve provided them with housing, food and healthcare,” the New York congresswoman stated. “They need to stop using New Yorkers’ hard-earned tax dollars to shield criminals wreaking havoc on our streets and instead cooperate with ICE to have them deported.”

The nationwide numbers mostly reflect those in New York City, the data revealed, with 662,586 – or 8.6% – of the 7.8 million illegal immigrants living in America currently having a criminal conviction or charges pending.

Kenneth Genalo, head of ICE’s New York City office, told the Post that if policies did not change, “it would take a lifetime to clear the city of the criminals that we have.”

Various members of the New York City Council shared in this frustration. They blamed the city’s sanctuary laws for the crisis.

“These numbers make it clear what everyone but our elected officials already know: sanctuary city laws are endangering New Yorkers by shielding criminals instead of protecting law-abiding citizens,” Councilman Robert Holden told the Post when he had been shown the ICE data.

Republicans blamed federal and local Democratic leaders for the 223,000 migrants who have entered New York City since 2022. 

The GOP declared that taxpayer-funded housing, food and health care programs lured in not only migrants but also foreign criminals. 

Some lawmakers replied to this news about illegal migrants by demanding action.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York) said that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) “said she’d be the first one to call ICE if a migrant broke the law – she has over 58,000 phone calls to make.” 

“Kathy Hochul must immediately end New York’s sanctuary state status and fully cooperate with ICE to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers,” Lawler wrote.

“Gov. Hochul will continue enforcing State policy, which protects law-abiding immigrants while ensuring violent criminals are held accountable,” Avi Small, a spokesperson for Hochul, said.

During a press conference at City Hall in February, Mayor Eric Adams (D-New York) shared his desire to end the city’s sanctuary city policy. They indicated that migrants “suspected” of serious crimes should be handed over to federal immigration officials.

Adams highlighted the need to return to the standards set by the mayors before him, Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg, who let police detain those arrested and charged for lengthier periods, which authorized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to issue detainers.

However, the current rules established under former Mayor Bill de Blasio provide some protection to people until they are convicted of serious crimes, effectively protecting them from federal scrutiny.

Adams recognized that most migrants and asylum seekers in the city are law-abiding. Despite this, he has criticized those who target police officers and repeat offenders.

President-elect Donald Trump said his team is preparing to deport millions of migrants of entered the country illegally.

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