New York rejected 16,000+ ICE detainers, DHS says; Hochul's office calls it a mischaracterization
New York municipalities refused more than 16,000 ICE detainer requests linked to over 52,000 criminal charges, while state officials claim they always notify federal authorities.
New York local governments turned down more than 16,000 ICE detainer requests that involved migrants charged with over 52,000 crimes. The refusal clashes with federal claims that the state shelters dangerous offenders, raising tension between the Trump administration and New York officials.
Municipalities across New York have rejected more than 16,000 ICE detainer requests for migrants accused or convicted of over 52,000 criminal charges since President Trump returned to office, according to Department of Homeland Security figures reported by the New York Post. Gov. Kathy Hochul's office calls the claim "a blatant mischaracterization of the facts."
What we know
The Department of Homeland Security reported that municipalities across New York rejected 16,070 detainer requests since President Trump returned to office less than two years ago. Those detainers involved migrants suspected or convicted of a range of offenses, including 131 homicides, 132 kidnappings, 1,017 sexual offenses, 1,561 DUI counts, 1,631 burglaries, 1,776 robberies, 2,198 weapons infractions, 9,502 assaults, and 4,324 drug‑related counts.
ICE detainers are requests for local law‑enforcement agencies to hold a suspected illegal migrant for up to 48 hours so federal officials can take custody. New York’s “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act,” signed by Governor Hochul in August, limits statewide cooperation with ICE on civil immigration matters, allowing localities to set their own policies.
“While sanctuary politicians continue to release dangerous criminals onto their streets, our brave law enforcement officers will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make America safe again,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told The Post.
Hochul’s spokeswoman, Alexia Nizhny, pushed back, stating that New York “always notifies federal immigration enforcement of any non‑citizen serving a State prison sentence” and called the DHS claims “a blatant mischaracterization of the facts.”
“Governor Hochul has been clear: New York State is not and never will be a sanctuary for violent criminals,” Nizhny said.
The governor’s office estimates that about 2,000 individuals held in New York state facilities have been turned over to federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Tensions escalated last week when ICE agents shot Oscar Belgal in the Bronx after a confrontation in which Belgal allegedly accelerated his SUV toward agents, refusing to exit the vehicle. Belgal’s 5‑year‑old child was in the back seat during the incident. ICE claimed Belgal smashed into two government cars before accelerating toward the agents.
Sources
File photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York (Marc A. Hermann / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0