New York City’s sanctuary city policies, once seen as a bold stand for immigrant rights, are now facing sharp criticism due to their unintended consequences.
Recent revelations from law enforcement officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) paint a grim picture. According to police sources cited by The New York Post, as many as 75% of those arrested in Midtown Manhattan in recent months for crimes such as assault, robbery, and domestic violence are migrants.
The city’s sanctuary laws, which prevent police from cooperating with ICE, hinder efforts to address these cases when suspects are in the country illegally.
ICE statistics further underscore the severity of the situation. More than 58,000 migrants in New York City are either convicted felons or have pending criminal charges.
Nationally, this figure rises to nearly 670,000. These individuals are among the 759,218 illegal border crossers known to be living in the city, meaning 7.7% of the migrant population has a criminal record.
Even more concerning, ICE data reveals that 1,053 of these migrants—nearly 2%—are identified as “suspected or known gang members.” The presence of such individuals adds a new layer of danger to the city’s already strained public safety systems.
Critics of the Biden administration and its immigration policies argue that these issues are the result of lax border control and a permissive stance toward illegal immigration.
Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) has been vocal in her criticism, accusing Democrats of enabling crime through their policies.
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. In many cases, they’ve provided them with housing, food and healthcare. They need to stop using New Yorkers’ hard-earned… https://t.co/HfGFF9dHUB
— Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) November 30, 2024
“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,” Malliotakis said.
She added that providing housing, food, and healthcare to individuals with criminal records only exacerbates the issue, urging local officials to cooperate with ICE to deport dangerous individuals.
Malliotakis shared these statistics on social media, emphasizing the need to prioritize public safety over ideology. “They need to stop using New Yorkers’ hard-earned tax dollars to shield criminals wreaking havoc on our streets,” she wrote.
The gravity of the situation has even prompted a response from traditionally left-leaning officials. New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D), known for her progressive stances, has signaled a willingness to work with the Trump administration on deporting migrants with criminal records.
JUST IN: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she will be the one to call ICE to deport any illegal if they break the law.
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) November 30, 2024
“Someone breaks the law, I’ll be the first one to call up ICE and say, 'get them out of here.'"pic.twitter.com/PoQIrCH4ju
This marks a significant departure from the standard Democratic stance on immigration, reflecting the increasing urgency of the crisis.
As New Yorkers grapple with rising crime rates and strained public resources, the debate over sanctuary city policies continues to intensify. For many, the need for a balanced approach—one that ensures both compassion for migrants and safety for residents—has never been clearer.