A large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation officially got underway in New York City on Monday, marking the launch of the enforcement surge that President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, vowed would target the city’s sanctuary policies.
Homan first announced plans for the expanded ICE presence last month but did not specify when the operation would begin.
During a June 8 appearance on Fox & Friends, Homan issued a direct warning to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, saying, “You’re going to see more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen in New York City, and it’s coming.”
His comments followed the passage of additional sanctuary-state legislation by New York’s Democrat-controlled Legislature. The new measures further limit cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.
At the time, Homan said the increased ICE presence was a direct response to those policies.
“I’m keeping my promise: We’re going to send more ICE agents to New York because you took away the efficiencies of safer arrests at county jails,” Homan added in June.
According to NewsNation, that promise began taking shape Monday as ICE formally launched its expanded enforcement effort across New York City.
The first wave of the operation was concentrated in Queens, with plans to broaden the effort into additional boroughs in the coming days.
For now, the operation is being carried out by ICE personnel already assigned to New York. Officials have not announced any plans to supplement the mission with agents from other regions.
Homan indicated that the immigration enforcement surge could remain in effect for more than a month, though he did not disclose additional details regarding the scope or duration of the operation.
{Matzav.com}