Border Czar Plans Immigration Enforcement Surge in New York City

Border czar Tom Homan revealed on Nov. 18 that federal immigration enforcement will increase in New York City, expanding on ongoing operations in the sanctuary city.

Homan, who has emphasized that his agency is focusing on the worst of the worst, made the announcement one month after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a sweep on street vendors in Manhattan, which turned into chaos after agents were swarmed by protesters.

“I plan on being in New York City in the near future,” Homan said on Fox News’s “America’s Newsroom” on Nov. 18. “We’re going to do operations in New York City.

“We will increase the enforcement presence in New York City, again, because they’re a sanctuary city and we know we have an issue there with public safety threats hitting the street every day.”

President Donald Trump said on Nov. 16 that he was open to meeting with the city’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to discuss possible collaborations.

“Regardless of [whether it’s a] Republican or Democratic city, we are going to enforce the laws across this country and take those public safety threats off the street,” Homan said. “Sanctuary cities, we’re flooding the zone, because we know they are releasing public safety threats into communities every day.”

A sanctuary city is defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a jurisdiction that has policies that materially impede the enforcement of federal immigration statutes and regulations.

Homan, who in June mentioned New York City as a target for resumed enforcement on criminals, did not say when the escalation would begin. DHS would oversee any operations.

Local leaders oppose the surge, and Mamdani said his city is committed to upholding its sanctuary policies.

“New York City’s more than three million immigrants are central to our city’s strength, vitality, and success,” Dora Pekec, spokesperson for Mamdani, said in a statement to media outlets on Nov. 18. “The mayor-elect remains steadfast in his commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of every single New Yorker and upholding our sanctuary laws.”

Jess D’Amelia, spokesperson for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, said the state has been working with law enforcement to uphold laws and keep residents safe.

“As Governor Hochul has made clear, federal intervention is not wanted or needed,” D’Amelia said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who said in 2024 that he was open to changing New York City’s sanctuary city laws, met with Homan in December 2024 to discuss mutual objectives, such as deporting repeat offenders. Adams stated at a press conference that neither party seeks to target law-abiding immigrants who contribute positively to the city.

In April, Adams issued an executive order allowing federal agencies such as ICE to base operations at Rikers Island, home to New York City’s largest jail. The city council sued Adams to stop that from happening.

Homan’s announcement of increased operations in New York City comes as ICE conducts expanded operations in Charlotte, North Carolina. The operation, dubbed “Charlotte’s Web,” resulted in the arrests of 130 illegal immigrants, many of whom had significant criminal and immigration histories, according to Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino.

Reuters contributed to this report. 

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the date of a statement made by President Donald Trump on Nov. 16 and misspelled the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. The Epoch Times regrets these errors.