US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 2,197 illegal immigrants in New York during a month-long operation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday.
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Operation Rotten Apple was conducted across New York state from July 27 to August 29. DHS said those arrested included individuals with criminal records involving murder, rape, kidnapping, drug trafficking and assault.
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the operation had helped make New York safer while accusing state and city officials of failing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“Over the course of this operation, we arrested murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug traffickers, and violent assailants,” Mullin said at a press conference in New York City.