Secretary Mullin Highlights Success of Operation Rotten Apple: ICE Arrests Over 2,100 Illegal Aliens in New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Mamdani released more than 13,000 criminal illegal aliens from jail back onto the streets of New York to terrorize innocent Americans

WASHINGTON - On Tuesday, United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin hosted a press conference in New York City, announcing the success of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Operation Rotten Apple.

The operation, which took place from July 27 to August 29, resulted in the arrests of 2,197 illegal aliens across the state of New York, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug traffickers, and violent assailants.

"Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of ICE and our federal partners, 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," said Secretary Mullin. "Over the course of this operation, we arrested murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug traffickers,and violent assailants. And we did it with no help from Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul. The Trump Administration is committed to protecting the American people in every city and every state, and 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."

"Operation Rotten Apple got some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens including murderers, kidnappers, and rapists off New York streets. ICE's efforts to remove public safety threats from American communities has contributed to the largest decrease in violent crime in American history," said Border Czar Tom Homan. "Democratic politicians in New York and elsewhere say that they care about public safety, but won't let immigration law enforcement officers into their jails to take criminals into custody; instead they release them to their streets. It makes no sense. President Trump is a law and order president who delivers on his promises, so if state and local officials will not safeguard their communities against lawbreakers and threats, then we will."

"ICE's targeted enforcement operation in New York was deliberate, precise, and grounded in the lawful execution of our public safety mission," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo."Policies that obstruct cooperation with federal immigration authorities undermine public safety and increase risks for our law enforcement officers, our communities, and the individuals we encounter. The safety of the public must take precedence over political agendas, and ICE will continue to enforce federal law without apology."

"At the heart of this operation was a solemn responsibility: protecting our neighborhoods and the people who call them home," said ICE ERO Buffalo Acting Field Office Director Philip Rhoney. "When political policies undermine coordination and prevent safe transfers to federal custody, they create avoidable risks for residents, officers, and neighborhoods across the state. ERO Buffalo will continue to enforce federal law, support our law enforcement partners, and protect the communities we serve without apology."

Some of the worst illegal aliens arrested in Operation Rotten Apple include:

Bogdan Detrovich Gren, an illegal alien from Ukraine, whose criminal history includes convictions for kidnapping, abduction resulting in death, criminal possession of a weapon, and murder.

Andreas Bernal Chiquito, an illegal alien from Colombia, whose criminal history includes arrests for course of sexual conduct against a child and act in manner to injure child less than 17.

Noel Celestino Lopez Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico, whose criminal history includes an arrest for first-degree rape: forcible compulsion.

Palvinder Singh, an illegal alien from India, whose criminal history includes a conviction for rape in Germany.

Carlos Mendez-Acosta, an illegal alien from Venezuela, whose criminal history includes a conviction for rape.

Chhun Kim Pril, an illegal alien from Cambodia, whose criminal history includes a conviction for drug trafficking.

Danilo Antonio Rodriguez, an illegal alien from the Dominican Republic, whose criminal history includes a conviction for conspiracy to distribute with intent to distribute heroin.

Hussein Faiad Shaban, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone, whose criminal history includes convictions for burglary: dwelling causing injury, first-degree assault, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and possession of burglary tool.

Jorge Alphonso Diego-Martinez, an illegal alien from Honduras, whose criminal history includes a conviction for possession with intent to distribute.

Loi Nguyen, an illegal alien from Vietnam, whose criminal history includes a conviction for burglary, possession of stolen property, damaging property, larceny, burglary tools - possession, cocaine possession, and receiving a stolen vehicle

New York City's Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an Executive Order turning New York City into a shield for violent criminal illegal aliens to reoffend and create more innocent victims.

Mamdani's action came after Governor Kathy Hochul's legislative proposal to bar local police departments from partnering and cooperating with ICE law enforcement.

These radical sanctuary policies resulted in the release of 13,621 criminal illegal aliens from jails back onto the streets of New York.

# # #