ICE arrests over 2,000 illegal aliens across New York in 'Operation Rotten Apple'

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday announced the results of its “Operation Rotten Apple” which they undertook in New York between late July and late August, with over 2,000 illegal immigrants being apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The operation saw agents arrest 2,197 illegal immigrants across the state. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a press conference Tuesday morning, “We focused on them all across the state of New York. These arrests included gang members, rapists, murderers, and child predators, which I believe there's a special place in hell for those individuals.”

Mullin said in a statement, “Operation Rotten Apple did what sanctuary politicians in New York City and the state of New York refuse to do: made the Empire State safer. We won’t let sanctuary politicians stand in our way. If you’re a state or local politician, your best bet is to cooperate with us so we can all make America safe again.” He said that the operation was conducted with “no help” from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani or Governor Kathy Hochul.

Also arrested were Colombian illegal immigrant Andreas Bernal Chiquito, who has previously been arrested for sexual conduct against a child and injuring a child under 17, as well as Indian illegal immigrant Palvinder Singh, who was convicted of rape in Germany. 

Mullin told reporters on Tuesday that the decision to launch the operation was made because Mayor Zohran Mamdani, “instead of working with law enforcement, tried to cut NYPD's budget by $22 million and refuses to work with federal law enforcement. You have a governor that refuses to work with us.”

He said that the operation targeted 13,000 illegal immigrants who have been released by “New York sanctuary politicians” that DHS and ICE had placed detainers on. “These are your rapists, your murderers, your child predators, these are gangbangers, these are terrorists.”