Why It Would Take a Lifetime to Deport NYC's Migrant Criminals

The New York City Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director has sounded a critical alarm regarding the proliferation of migrant criminal elements within the city.

Kenneth Genalo has delivered the assessment in his first interview since Donald Trump's presidential election, expressing deep concern about the challenges posed by New York City's sanctuary laws. Genalo asserts that under the existing legal framework, clearing the city of criminal migrants would require an extraordinary and potentially impossible effort. The ICE official emphasizes that his agency must concentrate its limited resources exclusively on the most egregious offenders, suggesting that the number of problematic migrants extends into the thousands.

“The fact is that I have to focus all of my resources on the worst of the worst, the most egregious violators. All I can tell you is we have leads that we work every day — and it’s not in the hundreds,” says Genalo.

Current immigration statistics reveal the complexity of the situation. Nationwide, approximately 7.8 million illegal immigrants reside in the United States, with 662,586 having been convicted of felonies or facing pending criminal charges. Since the immigration crisis escalated in spring 2022, New York City has received over 223,000 migrants, with approximately 58,000 currently housed in city-funded shelters. While ICE has not specified the exact number of criminals within this population, Genalo's comments imply a significant security concern.

The sanctuary policies implemented by New York City have been a primary source of frustration for federal immigration authorities. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio's legislation, enacted in 2014 and 2018, effectively prohibited the New York Police Department from collaborating with federal immigration officials in deportation efforts. These policies have drawn notable criticism, particularly in light of high-profile incidents such as the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, which critics argue might have been prevented with more robust cooperation between local and federal authorities.

Current Mayor Eric Adams has shown some inclination to reconsider these sanctuary rules, suggesting that migrants suspected of serious crimes could be turned over to ICE. However, he lacks the necessary political support on the City Council to effect meaningful change. Genalo contends that the sanctuary policies primarily serve to shield criminals, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable community members, including migrant women and children.