Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., criticized New York City leaders on Thursday for their ongoing refusal to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in removing illegal migrants from the city. In 2023, ICE issued 109 immigration detainers to the New York Police Department (NYPD). These detainers requested that individuals be held for 48 hours past their release date to allow ICE to determine if they should be taken into federal custody. However, the NYPD did not comply with these detainers due to laws established in 2014 under Mayor Bill de Blasio which restricted the city’s interaction with ICE.

Rep. Malliotakis expressed her frustration, highlighting that dangerous criminals are being allowed to remain free while ICE officials are disregarded. She urged the City Council and Mayor to restore cooperation with federal immigration authorities, pointing out that certain prosecutors and judges are releasing illegal residents back onto the streets, jeopardizing community safety.

Malliotakis emphasized the potential risks of the city’s lenient treatment of criminals, especially in a post-9/11 era, and criticized what she viewed as Democratic policies that prioritize criminals and sanctuary policies over public safety for American citizens. She has been a vocal supporter of ICE’s role in maintaining the city’s security, advocating for the repeal of laws that limit cooperation with ICE and backing the POLICE Act, a federal legislation that aims to make assaulting a first responder a deportable offense.

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