DHS, ICE comment on dangerous consequences of sanctuary policies

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles commented on the dangers of sanctuary policies following the arrest and shooting of a criminal alien offender in New York City.

"Sanctuary politicians create an environment for criminal activity to thrive, not for American citizens be safe." said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. "President Trump made it very clear that he was going to restore law and order in our cities, in our towns, and in our states, in spite of sanctuary politicians that put criminals in front of law-abiding citizens. Sanctuary cities and politicians endanger the safety of the public. That is not a secret. That is exactly what takes place."

On Oct. 8, ICE officers arrested Oscar Bergal, a criminal illegal alien and documented associate of the notorious Trinitario street gang in the Bronx, NY. Bergal's criminal history includes a conviction for grand larceny as well as charges for multiple counts of robbery, assault, larceny, weapons possession, possession of stolen property, and dangerous drugs. Twice in January of 2026 Bengal had protection orders lodged against him. Both remain active.

"[Bergal] refused to comply with the orders of federal law enforcement officers, ICE officers," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles. "Bergal is the subject of an HSI investigation; he is a known associate of a gang in New York; and he has evaded law enforcement before when we attempted to arrest him before."

On the afternoon of Oct. 8, ICE ERO New York City officers positively identified Bergal driving his vehicle. Officers used their vehicles to conduct a vehicle stop and approached Bergal's vehicle on foot. Bergal then rammed the ICE vehicles and appeared that he intended to strike officers on foot. Based on Bergal's actions, and his vehicle's proximity to the officers, as well as the rapidly evolving circumstances, ICE officers reasonably believed that they faced an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. One ICE officer discharged his firearm in self-defense, striking Bergal.

"Bergal refused lawful orders to exit his vehice. He then accelerated his vehicle smashing into two of our ICE vehicles. He then weaponized his vehicle and proceeded to accelerate his vehicle toward other officers," Charles said. "Our officer, believing that their life, the lives of their partners and the lives of the general public were in danger, used their training and fired their weapon."

Bergal was struck in the neck and sustained a superficial injury. ICE officers rendered first aid until the New York Police Department and Emergency Medical Services arrived, evaluated Bergal, and provided additional medical care. EMS transported Bergal to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment. ICE officers arrested Bergal upon his release from the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Bergal remains in ICE custody.

Bergal illegally entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being inspected, admitted, or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

On Dec.7, 2023, NYPD officers arrested Bergal for Robbery-1st: Forcible Theft Armed with A Deadly Weapon. Bergal pled guilty to the lesser charge of Grand Larceny 4^th: Property Taken From Person. He was sentenced to five years' probation.

Bergal has active charges in New York for charges for multiple counts of robbery, assault, larceny, weapons possession, possession of stolen property, and dangerous drugs. Twice in January of 2026 the state of New York issued two protection orders against Bergal on Jan. 29, 2026. Both remain active.

"From January 2025 to September of this year, we have lodged 14,766 immigration detainers in the state of New York. These are for individuals who are locked up, with criminal backgrounds, that the state of New York has in custody," Mullin said. "We have asked that these 14,766 detainers be honored because these are illegal aliens with criminal records who should never be allowed back on the streets. Silence - absolute silence is what we have heard from New York. These detainers represent 47,750 felony charges. We know that these are the worst of the worst."

This arrest closely follows another incident on Oct. 2, where criminal illegal aliens brutally stabbed an off-duty NYPD detective seven times during an attempted robbery in the Bronx. Detective Jose Mercedes was rushed to a hospital after an attack that could have cost him his life.

The two men accused of attacking him are also Dominican nationals who entered the U.S. illegally. Both had extensive criminal histories. ICE had lodged immigration detainers against both aliens. They were released into the country under the Biden administration.

"The men and women of ICE and DHS are out there every day enforcing our nation's laws," Mullin said. "We are not picking and choosing which laws to enforce like the sanctuary politicians. We are enforcing our nation's laws. Why is that controversial? We should all want law and order on our streets."

ICE officers and agents are currently facing a 1,600% increase in physical assaults and an 8,000% increase in vehicular assaults.