In a high-profile move reinforcing the Trump administration’s focus on public safety, newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem participated in an early morning raid in New York City, targeting criminal illegal immigrants.
The operation, which took place on Tuesday, was part of a broader enforcement effort aimed at apprehending individuals deemed to be threats to public security.
Noem, speaking on Hannity, emphasized the necessity of targeting “the worst of the worst” to make communities safer.
“The community is safer now. That’s the reality of it,” she declared after witnessing the arrest of Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, an alleged ringleader of the violent Tren de Aragua gang.
Authorities revealed that Zambrano-Pacheco had been wanted in connection with a heavily armed incident in Colorado.
Under President Trump’s directive, federal immigration agencies have intensified their operations across sanctuary cities, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. According to Noem, lifting sanctuary laws would empower law enforcement to apprehend and prosecute dangerous individuals more effectively. Despite challenges, Noem affirmed that her department would continue its mission:
“We will continue to go forward and identify those folks and get them out.”
The collaborative raid, which included agents from ICE, the FBI, and the DEA, marks a dramatic shift from previous enforcement efforts. ICE officers, now working alongside other federal agencies, have seen their operations significantly bolstered. The increased manpower and strategic focus have already led to three times the number of arrests compared to the Biden administration, according to Noem.
Among the 20 individuals arrested during the operation was a Yemeni suspect appearing on the FBI’s terror watch list and a Dominican national wanted by Interpol for a homicide outside the US Authorities underscored that while the focus remains on individuals with violent criminal records, encounters with other undocumented individuals may also result in their arrest.
Critics of the raids have expressed concerns about the aggressive tactics and potential for capturing individuals without violent criminal histories. Nonetheless, Noem defended the operation as necessary for public safety.
“Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets,” she said.
Noem highlighted the administration’s commitment to prioritizing public safety.
With ICE detention capacity nearing its limit, the administration faces logistical hurdles in housing detainees. Noem acknowledged these constraints and indicated that transporting detainees to facilities with more capacity may be required. The operations’ scope, which has expanded to cities like Chicago, underscores the administration’s commitment to aggressive enforcement measures.
Noem and Trump administration officials have framed these raids as a clear message to deter illegal immigration.
“We’ve sent a message clearly to the world: ‘Don’t come here. If you’re an illegal and if you’re dangerous, we have a target on you, and you will not be welcome,'” Noem declared.
With input from FOX News and the Washington Post.
