A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said this week that New York City is holding more than 7,000 undocumented individuals with active ICE detainers, including people with records of serious criminal offenses.
According to the official, the detainers apply to 7,169 individuals, a figure that includes “hundreds” of people charged with or convicted of violent crimes such as murder and sexual assault. DHS is urging New York City to transfer those individuals to federal custody.
“Hand over those individuals. Honor those detainers,” Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia Ohio said. “Then we won’t have to flood the zone with ICE law enforcement, because we will get these vicious criminals out of NYC jails.”
The comments come as federal and city officials continue to clash over immigration enforcement and local sanctuary-city policies. ICE detainers request that local jails hold individuals for possible federal immigration action, but New York City policy generally limits compliance unless certain criminal conditions are met.
DHS says the individuals identified fall under categories that qualify for federal action. New York officials have not publicly responded to the latest figures.
The department says it will continue pushing for cooperation as it attempts to remove individuals who meet federal criteria for deportation.
