Crime and Courts
Ramped-Up Immigration Enforcement in New York City
A suspect wanted in the Dominican Republic in connection to two murders and a suspected gang member seen in a viral video entering a Colorado apartment with his alleged gun-toting crew were arrested by federal agents as part of ramped-up immigration enforcement in New York City.
Arrests and Investigations
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined federal agents Tuesday in the city to announce the arrests of dozens of immigrants wanted on criminal charges in the Bronx and Washington Heights. Noem was the latest high-ranking official from President Donald Trump’s administration to tout the new sweeping immigration crackdown.
Exclusive video obtained by NBC New York showed federal agents swarming into a Washington Heights building, hours after a similar sting in the Bronx. One video showed a man in handcuffs being led away from his home on Audubon Avenue. It was not clear what charges the man, who was not identified, faced. The building super told NBC New York the man had lived there for a while and may have worked as a delivery driver.
An operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents along Ogden Avenue in the Bronx early Tuesday snared Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco. Authorities said the 26-year-old was part of a group of men, including members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, who entered an apartment in Aurora, Colorado, in Summer 2024 and were recorded on a widely viewed video.
Charges and Investigation
The charges were brought by local authorities in Colorado. It was not immediately clear what would happen next for Zambrano-Pacheco, who was taken into ICE custody. Two other men who police said were in the video were arrested in New York in November. They were still in ICE custody as of Tuesday.
The incident caught President Donald Trump’s attention during the presidential campaign, and he announced a plan called “Operation Aurora” to target migrant gangs. The video led Trump to claim that the Denver suburb had been taken over by the gang, which city officials denied.
Community Reaction
Local and federal authorities, including Aurora police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, investigated the apartment video incident for months beginning when Joe Biden was president.
Richard Egu, a correctional officer who is originally from Nigeria and has been a naturalized citizen for more than 15 years, said he didn’t venture out to investigate and did not know the man who was arrested. He said he understood the need to arrest and deport those in the country illegally who commit crimes, but he also worries about the effect such enforcement will have in the community.
Concerns and Criticism
Some advocates for the undocumented with families say there is real fear, even among those who have been in the country for more than a decade. Officials have said the targeted sweeps are expected to continue in NYC this week. We’re told some communities in North Jersey could see an enforcement push starting the first week of February.
Queens City Councilmember Tiffany Caban said they are hearing of “panic in immigrant communities.” Other elected officials expressed concern for the others swept up in the raids.
Chicago Criticizes Enforcement Operations
In Chicago, city leaders criticized the highly publicized enforcement operations that started over the weekend in the nation’s third-largest city. That included the surprising decision to allow daytime television psychologist “Dr. Phil” McGraw to livestream immigrant arrests alongside Homan.
Conclusion
The arrests and enforcement operations are part of a larger effort to target undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. While some communities are concerned about the impact on immigrant families, others are calling for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the immigration enforcement operations?
A: The operations are aimed at targeting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes and are wanted on criminal charges.
Q: How many people were arrested in the operations?
A: According to officials, dozens of immigrants were arrested in the Bronx and Washington Heights.
Q: What is the next step for those arrested?
A: Those arrested will be processed and potentially face expedited removal from the U.S. or an immigration court hearing.
Q: What is the reaction from the community?
A: Some community members are concerned about the impact on immigrant families, while others are calling for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
