Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Surges in New York City Under DHS, Compared to Biden’s Record
Recent data released by the Department of Homeland Security has drawn comparisons between the immigration enforcement policies and outcomes under the Trump and Biden administrations, particularly within New York City, a so-called ‘sanctuary city.’ The numbers show that the Trump administration has issued more than 6,000 detainers in New York alone since taking office in January 2021, more than 400% higher than the 9,472 issued during Biden’s term. This sharp increase has raised questions about the impact of immigration policy on public safety and law enforcement cooperation.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin spoke to Fox News Digital, emphasizing the rise in detainers as an indicator of Trump’s immigration enforcement push. However, she pointed out that despite the large number of detainers, New York City has honored only a ‘handful’ of these requests, which she called a significant failure of local authorities to uphold federal enforcement priorities. McLaughlin also criticized sanctuary policies, claiming that they protect ‘barbaric criminals’ with violent pasts, such as rapists, murderers, and drug traffickers, who are then released back into communities.
The issue has taken on a more tragic dimension with recent events in the city. An off-duty Border Patrol officer was shot in the face by an illegal immigrant, prompting a renewed focus on the tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local sanctuary policies. The alleged attacker, a Dominican national named Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, had been arrested and later released by New York Police Department during the Biden administration, according to DHS. This incident has brought further scrutiny to the city’s stance on immigration, with Mayor Eric Adams responding to the shooting by stating that local officials only follow the rules and have no responsibility for federal immigration enforcement.
The data also highlights the broader trend of immigration-related criminal activity. Between January 2023 and October 2024, 3,219 migrants in New York City’s 48 shelters were arrested a total of 4,884 times. Additionally, reports reveal that a significant portion of these individuals are involved in violent crimes, including assaults, thefts, and drug-related offenses, raising concerns about the impact of sanctuary policies on crime rates.
In response to these developments, the DHS has also pointed to a surge in assaults against ICE agents, with numbers rising by 830% since Trump took office. The department attributes this increase to anti-ICE rhetoric and the influence of sanctuary policies, which reportedly incite violence against federal law enforcement. The situation has sparked a heated debate over the role of local governments in enforcing federal immigration laws and the potential risks to public safety posed by the release of individuals with criminal records.