New York City officials react to immigration raids

Although the arrest was targeting a specific person, it still has rattled residents and officials. 

“At this point there are a lot of people who just do not feel safe,” Stevens said.

“These raids in the Bronx were nothing short of spectacle. We saw political theater to scare people,” Councilwoman Alexa Avilés said.

Avilés, who chairs the Council’s Committee on Immigration, said that local lawmakers are committed to protecting immigrants, including strengthening the city’s sanctuary city law.

“This is going to affect everyday New Yorkers. This is not just a new arrival situation, 40% of our New York City population [is] immigrants. So I think we are in for very dark days.,” she said.

In a statement, Mayor Eric Adams said the raids were part of a larger interagency task force that included coordination of the city’s police department with federal partners. 

Adams supported Tuesday’s enforcement efforts saying, in part, “As I have repeatedly said, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice — just as we have done for years. Our commitment to protecting our city’s law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.” 

The governor also showed support for the raids. 

“My understanding is that they had specific names of people that committed crimes, serious offenders, and those are exactly the people that we want removed from the state of New York,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

Despite claims that violent criminals are being prioritized, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that others — even with no criminal activity inside the country — will be targeted.

“The individuals who committed heinous acts in the interior of our country and who have terrorized law abiding American citizens absolutely those should be the priority of ICE but that doesn’t mean the other illegal criminals who enter our nation’s borders are off the table.,” Leavitt said.

“That’s the problem with Trump administration. They are all over the place. They cannot differentiate between a violent felon who will be arrested, tried, convicted and deported and someone on a bad day who may have jumped the turnstile,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat said. 

Espaillat said the vague information coming from the White House is troubling. 

“If you cannot differentiate between those two, I think you’re confused. Of course, confusion in a mass deportation scheme is not a good thing. And that’s why this has turned not just sloppy but inhumane.,” he said.

The raids come as Adams continues to be out sick and while he has carefully avoided saying anything critical about the president.