New York City is grappling with an influx of migrant criminals, according to Kenneth Genalo, head of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) NYC field office.
Speaking in his first interview since Donald Trump’s election, Genalo painted a dire picture of the city’s immigration enforcement challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for additional resources.
“In New York City, it would take a lifetime to clear the city of the criminals that we have,” Genalo said according to the New York Post.
The 33-year ICE veteran, who oversees nearly 400 staffers as regional director, underscored that current limitations force his team to focus solely on the “worst of the worst,” leaving thousands of criminal cases unaddressed.
Of the 7.8 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, 662,586 are either convicted felons or face pending criminal charges, according to ICE data from July 2023.
In New York City alone, more than 223,000 migrants have arrived since the spring of 2022. While at least 58,000 remain in taxpayer-funded shelters, ICE has not disclosed the exact number of criminals among them.
Genalo hinted at the staggering scale of the problem, admitting that the number of criminal leads in the city far exceeds the hundreds his team can actively pursue.
Genalo expressed frustration over New York City’s sanctuary laws, which prevent ICE from detaining and deporting criminal migrants.
These policies were solidified during the tenure of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who, in 2014, signed a law barring NYPD cooperation with federal immigration officials.
In 2018, de Blasio expanded these protections by issuing guidelines codifying the city’s refusal to collaborate with ICE.
“The only people they’re shielding are the criminals,” Genalo said. “The majority of these crimes are being committed against the most vulnerable in the community—migrant women and children. I don’t understand how they believe sanctuary policies are helping.”
Critics argue that these policies have had deadly consequences. For example, Georgia nursing student Laken Riley was murdered by an undocumented migrant who had previously been in custody in New York on child endangerment charges but was released under sanctuary rules.
Current Mayor Eric Adams has called for loosening sanctuary laws to allow ICE to detain migrants suspected of serious crimes. However, his proposals have faced resistance from the City Council’s progressive majority.
“The mayor knows we need to cooperate,” said Genalo. “He sees what’s going on in New York City and wants help from the federal government.”
While Mayor Adams has sought federal assistance to manage the ongoing migrant crisis, Genalo believes more immediate action is needed.
He expressed a desire to testify before the City Council to educate lawmakers about the harm sanctuary policies inflict on the community.
“We need additional resources,” Genalo reiterated, calling for a reevaluation of policies that have left ICE struggling to address the overwhelming number of criminal cases.
As the crisis deepens, the tension between local sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement continues to escalate, with serious implications for public safety and community trust.