The Trump administration is ramping up its crackdown on sanctuary cities, following the shooting of an off-duty federal officer in New York allegedly by an undocumented immigrant with a criminal record.
Tom Homan, former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and now Donald Trump’s immigration advisor, announced plans to “flood the zone” with ICE agents in Democrat-led sanctuary cities. These cities, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, have long drawn criticism from Trump allies who claim they shield dangerous criminals.
“We’re going to deploy more agents in New York City,” said Homan, adding that agents will also be sent to workplaces and communities. “If we can’t arrest someone in jail, we’ll arrest them in the community — and anyone else we find here illegally is coming with us.”
The renewed push follows an incident in New York’s Riverside Park, where a Customs and Border Protection officer was shot during what police say was an attempted robbery. The suspect, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, is a Dominican national who reportedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and had been arrested four times in New York City. Officials say he was released each time due to local sanctuary policies. His alleged accomplice, Christhian Aybar-Berroa, had also been ordered deported in 2023.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed New York City’s sanctuary policies — and the Biden administration’s approach to border security — for the officer’s injuries. “This officer is in the hospital today because city leaders refused to protect their people,” Noem said, accusing Mayor Eric Adams of enabling criminals.
Noem also targeted leaders in other major cities, including Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles, alleging that sanctuary policies in these places have fueled crime and endangered communities.
Homan dismissed media claims that ICE focuses on non-criminal immigrants. “I look at the numbers daily — 130,000 arrests, 90,000 of them criminals. That’s 70%. The rest are people with final orders of removal, and it’s ICE’s job to remove them.”
He added that several hundred Iranian nationals labeled as national security threats had recently been detained under Noem’s leadership, saying not all threats carry criminal records but still pose serious risks.
A second Trump term could mean more aggressive immigration enforcement — and sanctuary cities may find themselves squarely in the crosshairs.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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