Dramatic Immigration Arrests Rattle Bronx and Upper Manhattan
No More Grace
Federal immigration officials launched their first high-profile raids in New York City under President Donald Trump, trumpeting their actions in a 7 a.m. video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who personally oversaw the enforcement actions, proclaimed that agents were “getting the dirtbags off the streets in New York City this morning.”
A motorcade of heavily militarized federal agents converged at the parking lot of the Bronx Terminal Market in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday morning, before heading to at least three different locations in The Bronx and Upper Manhattan.
Federal immigration enforcement agents used the Bronx Terminal Market parking lot as a staging area before making arrests Tuesday morning.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many people had been detained by federal agents in raids at two Bronx locations and one in Washington Heights — or if other locations were hit. But tweets from several official government accounts on social media showed at least four people being taken into custody this morning.
Spokespeople for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — who all tweeted about the raids — didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
By midafternoon, details had emerged about only one of the arrests in the morning crackdown. The Trump-boosting New York Post quickly published an exclusive, sourced to “law-enforcement sources,” about the arrest of 25-year-old Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, an alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua gang that Trump designated as a “terrorist organization” in an executive order last week.
That was followed later in the day by a statement from Mayor Eric Adams — who has cleared most of his schedule this week for an unidentified ailment — confirming the city was coordinating with Homeland Security “on a federal criminal investigation involving a suspect hiding in New York City.”
‘Everyone Scared’
While the arrests Tuesday morning appeared to target only a handful of people, neighbors outside one apparent arrest site on Creston Avenue in University Heights were rattled in the hours after the raid.
“Donald Trump has everyone scared,” one neighbor who declined to give his name told THE CITY. He said he’s lived on the block for two decades.
Yudelka Romano, who is 52 and has lived on the block and off for more than 20 years, said she’d noticed how quiet the block had been in recent days.
“No one sits outside,” she said. “It’s such a difference since Trump took office, everybody’s scared.”
Outside another site of arrests, on Ogden Street, one passerby who works in the area said he saw dozens of federal law enforcement in vans that blocked the entire street, with dozens of officers around 6:30 a.m.
“There’s nothing to be surprised about,” he said, declining to share his name fearing employment issues. “[Trump] made everything clear.”
The Impact
As the number of arrests by ICE has surged to more than 1,200 a day, about half of those people had some underlying criminal charge, while the rest had nonviolent arrests or no other violation beyond being in the country without authorization, NBC reported.
In recent days immigrant communities have been on edge, with some New York City parents keeping their kids home after the Trump administration threw out policies limiting arrests in “sensitive locations” like churches and schools. Only private residences appeared to be targeted on Tuesday morning.
Conclusion
The dramatic immigration arrests in Bronx and Upper Manhattan have sent shockwaves through the community, with many feeling anxious and fearful. The Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has led to a surge in arrests and deportations, causing uncertainty and fear among immigrant families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many people were arrested in the raids?
A: The exact number of arrests is not clear, but tweets from official government accounts showed at least four people being taken into custody.
Q: Were any of the arrested individuals violent criminals?
A: According to Mayor Eric Adams, one of the arrested individuals was connected to multiple violent crimes, including burglary, kidnapping, extortion, and firearms possession.
Q: Were any of the arrested individuals undocumented immigrants?
A: Yes, at least one of the arrested individuals was an undocumented immigrant.
Q: How has the community reacted to the raids?
A: Many community members are feeling anxious and fearful, with some parents keeping their kids home from school. Neighbors have reported seeing heavily militarized federal agents in the area, causing a sense of unease.
