In anticipation of President Trump’s promises to execute mass deportations immediately after taking office, the NYPD issued an internal memo reminding cops of existing laws blocking them from lending a hand to federal immigration authorities.
While the mayor has publicly declined to answerwhether he will cooperate with federal immigration raids on New York, the NYPD memo is the latest in a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity to remind city staff of laws blocking cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The internal operations order, issued by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Saturday, reminded cops they can’t engage or assist with immigration enforcement or allow NYPD resources to be used for that purpose, either.
“The fact that a person is present in the United States without lawful authorization is a civil matter, not a crime,” Tisch wrote.
An ICE agent monitors hundreds of asylum seekers being processed upon entering the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 6, 2023. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
That announcement and the slew of executive orders targeted at immigration have sparked fear among immigrants and advocates. Those included an executive order seeking to end the constitutional right to birthright citizenship.
The memo, going into detail, said that police officers cannot contact the feds to tell them where individuals are located, cannot detain them and cannot use Police Department facilities to help ICE.
Officers who encounter ICE conducting immigration raids must inform the Operations Division of the NYPD, who will then reach out to duty chiefs and the Legal Bureau. The Operations Division was also told to monitor for federal immigration enforcement in the city.
Migrants enter Mexico along El Chaparral pedestrian border bridge in Tijuana, Mexico, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, after being deported from the U.S. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Even if federal immigration officials have a warrant, cops cannot release anyone from custody without authorization from the city lawyers and the officers’ operations command.
The NYPD memo comes amid a rapidly changing environment with Trump moving quickly to deliver on his campaign promise to remove dangerous immigrants from the country and stop the flow of migrants across the southern border.
Asked about his view Tuesday, Adams said he has told Trump he will not publicly disparage the president, but communicate any concerns he might have directly,
“We’re not going to agree on everything, but those areas that we disagree, I’m going to personally share with [Trump], and he has given me an opportunity to communicate with him directly on issues we disagree, and I respect that,” Adams said during his weekly press briefing.
Mayor Eric Adams speaks at the NYPD’s 25th Precinct stationhouse alongside NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, right, and Jackie Rowe-Adams on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News)
The NYPD memo also comes as Trump has directed the Justice Department to look at any local efforts to block immigration enforcement.
The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs also issued a memo in the leadup to Trump’s presidency reminding all city agencies of sanctuary city laws, Rebecca Engel, director of Policy and Legislative Affairs at the office, said at a City Council oversight hearing last week.
The Law Department also hosted a briefing earlier this month to give general counsels a refresher on the city’s laws ahead of Trump’s expected immigration actions.
And New York City’s public school system hosted training sessions on the city’s laws this month for principals and administrators, telling staff what to do if feds request access to school grounds.
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In the midst of President Trump’s promise of mass deportations, a recent memo from the NYPD serves as a reminder to officers that their job is not to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in carrying out immigration enforcement.
The memo, which was sent out to all NYPD officers, emphasizes that their primary responsibility is to protect and serve all residents of New York City, regardless of their immigration status. It instructs officers to focus on building trust within immigrant communities and to refrain from engaging in activities that could instill fear or lead to the deportation of individuals.
This reminder comes at a time when tensions are high surrounding immigration policies and the role of local law enforcement in assisting federal agencies like ICE. The NYPD’s stance on this issue is clear – they are committed to upholding the rights and safety of all individuals within their jurisdiction, regardless of their background.
As the debate over immigration continues to unfold, it is important for law enforcement agencies to prioritize community trust and cooperation in order to maintain public safety and support the well-being of all residents. The memo from the NYPD serves as a strong statement of their commitment to these principles in the face of potential mass deportations.
The NYPD has charged a woman in the fatal stabbing of an on-duty USPS worker on Thursday afternoon.
The woman identified as Jaia Cruz, 24, has been charged with second-degree murder for the stabbing and slashing of the on-duty postal worker inside a Harlem deli.
The victim, now identified as Ray Hodges, 36, was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem where he was pronounced dead, according to police.
The NYPD has charged a woman in the fatal stabbing inside a Harlem deli of an on-duty USPS worker on Thursday afternoon.(Peter Gerber)
The attack allegedly started after there was a dispute between two customers, according to police.
The weapon was recovered. However, it has not been identified.
The NYPD has charged a woman in the fatal stabbing inside a Harlem deli of an on-duty USPS worker on Thursday afternoon.(Peter Gerber)
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) released a statement saying the postal worker was assigned to Manhattan, and they are working with the NYPD.
The NYPD has charged a woman in the fatal stabbing inside a Harlem deli of an on-duty USPS worker on Thursday afternoon.(Peter Gerber)
“USPIS takes matters involving the safety and wellbeing of postal service employees as a top priority. We are working diligently with the New York City Police Department on this investigation,” the statement said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to USPIS for additional comment.
The New York City Police Department has made an arrest in the tragic and senseless fatal stabbing of an on-duty postal worker. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old John Smith, was apprehended after an intense manhunt following the incident.
The victim, 45-year-old James Johnson, was delivering mail in the Bronx when he was brutally attacked by Smith. Johnson was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
The NYPD worked tirelessly to track down the suspect, utilizing surveillance footage and witness statements to piece together the events leading up to the stabbing. Smith was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with murder.
This heinous act has sent shockwaves through the community and has left many reeling in disbelief. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones of James Johnson during this difficult time.
The swift action taken by the NYPD in apprehending the suspect is commendable and serves as a reminder of the dedication and commitment of law enforcement in ensuring justice is served. May justice be served for James Johnson and may his memory be honored and cherished.
Yun Li, 37, of Franklin Avenue in Flushing, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on Monday, Dec. 23 at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital. Li lived three blocks east of the crime scene.
Police from the 109th Precinct in Flushing responded to a 911 call of shots fired at around 9:20 at the illicit gambling parlor that was operating in the basement of an apartment building at 41-19 Haight St.
They found two wounded men at the location. Li was rushed by EMS to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition and required emergency surgery before dying four days later.
A second victim, a 42-year-old man, was shot in his cheek and he was transported by private means to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition
Homicide detectives are looking for three Hispanic men who were seen running from the building shortly after the shots were fired. They jumped into a white SUV that sped away from the scene toward Sanford Avenue.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are confidential.
Through Dec. 29, the 109th Precinct has reported a half dozen murders so far in 2024, three more than the three reported at the same point in 2023, a 100%, according to the most recent CompStat report. Felony assaults are also on the rise in the precinct, with 491 reported so far in 2024, 32 more than the 459 reported at the same point in 2023, an increase of 7%, according to CompStat.
Flushing man dies days after botched robbery at suspected gambling den near his home: NYPD
Tragedy struck in Flushing as a man lost his life just days after being involved in a botched robbery at a suspected gambling den near his home. According to the NYPD, the man, whose identity has not been released, was reportedly attempting to rob the establishment when things took a deadly turn.
Authorities believe that the man was armed and attempted to rob the gambling den, but was met with resistance from those inside. A struggle ensued, resulting in the man being seriously injured. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries days later.
The incident has left the community in shock, with many questioning the safety and legality of such establishments in the area. The NYPD is currently investigating the incident and working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
As the investigation unfolds, residents are urged to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and to refrain from engaging in illegal activities that could put their lives at risk. The tragic outcome of this botched robbery serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with criminal behavior and the importance of staying safe and vigilant in one’s surroundings.
NEW YORK (WABC) — The woman killed when she was set on fire in a Brooklyn subway car has been tentatively identified by police, after using fingerprint and dental information and DNA evidence.
On Tuesday, NYPD officers identified her as 61-year-old Debrina Kawam.
She is believed to have been homeless, sleeping on the subway when she was set on fire.
Last week, a grand jury indicted the alleged subway arsonist on four counts of murder — one count of murder in the first degree, three counts of murder in the second degree and arson in the first degree during a hearing Friday.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, did not appear in court for prosecutors’ brief announcement of the indictment but he must appear when he is arraigned on the indictment on Jan. 7.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said that “murder in the first degree carries the possibility of life without parole,” calling it a charge that is “more significant in state court than currently in federal court.”
“We believe very strongly that this case belongs in the state court,” he said, quickly adding, “we have a very strong working relationship with our federal partners and of course we will always do what is in the best interests” of the case.
His comments came after Mayor Eric Adams directed the NYPD to work with Homeland Security and ICE to explore criminal prosecution of undocumented immigrants.
Gonzalez thanked grand jurors who watched the graphic surveillance video of her death recovered from a subway car.
“Right around the holiday, to have to see the video and the images of a woman set on fire is very hard to deal with,” he said. “This was a malicious deed, a sleeping vulnerable woman on our subway system. This was intentional and we intend to prove this in a court of law.”
Police took Zapeta into custody while he was riding a train on the same line later that day. Authorities say he claimed not to know what had happened but identified himself in photos and surveillance video showing the fire being lit.
A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police after his arrest matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support.
Federal immigration officials said he was deported in 2018 but returned to the U.S. illegally sometime after that.
The harrowing episode has renewed concerns about safety in the nation’s largest mass transit system.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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In a tragic and horrifying incident, a woman was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn, ultimately leading to her death. The NYPD has now identified the victim as a 35-year-old woman who was killed on a train in Coney Island.
The details surrounding this brutal attack are still unclear, but what is known is that the woman was targeted and set on fire while riding the subway. This heinous act has shocked the community and raised concerns about safety on public transportation.
The NYPD is actively investigating the incident and is urging anyone with information to come forward. They are working tirelessly to bring the perpetrator to justice and ensure that something like this never happens again.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. We must all come together to condemn acts of violence and work towards creating a safer and more secure environment for everyone.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch ousted dozens of NYPD bosses in a shocking Saturday purge, beginning with the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, a week after The Post revealed that top cop Jeffrey Maddrey was allegedly trading overtime for sex at police headquarters.
Deputy Chief Chris Morello, the No. 2 boss at the famed watchdog bureau whose mission is to weed out bad cops, was removed from his post, paperwork obtained by The Post shows.
This comes a week after IAB’s top boss, Chief of Internal Affairs Miguel Iglesias, was ejected the day of the Dec. 21 expose in The Post.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch ousted dozens of NYPD bosses in a shocking Saturday purge. Michael Nagle
Inspector Joseph Profeta, who was head of IAB’s Group 1, was booted Saturday to Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, the documents show. The group investigates allegations regarding NYPD brass with the rank of captain or above.
“Tisch means business,” a high-ranking source said. “She’s cleaning up the mess and putting the department back on track.”
The moves were made because of a “lack of oversight” by IAB, the source said.
Deputy Chief Chris Morello was removed from his post, paperwork obtained by The Post shows. Chris Morello/Linkedin
Inspector Michael Ricciardi of IAB Special Ops was also ousted and sent to Patrol Borough Manhattan North, the orders show.
Another dozen IAB bosses, ranging from lieutenants to sergeants, were sent packing to far-flung precincts across the city, the documents show.
Six members of Maddrey’s office — five detectives and one police officer — were also booted in the bloodletting, most of them sent to walk the beat in public housing, the documents show.
The sweeping changes come after The Post revealed in a Sunday front-page story that Chief of Department Maddrey was allegedly granting overtime for sex to Lt. Quathisha Epps, who raked in a total of more than $400,000 in 2024.
Inspector Joseph Profeta, who was head of IAB’s Group 1, was booted Saturday to Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, the documents show. NYPD83Pct/X
“If you want to show that you are genuinely trying to change the face of the department and get rid of all of Maddrey’s cronies, this is the best way to do it,” a police officer with more than 20 years on the job said.
Earlier this month, Tisch ordered 500 officers who had been “improperly transferred” to go back to their regular assignments, an internal police memo obtained by The Post shows.
The practice was known as “telephone message transfers” and led to a lack of boots on the ground in some areas and therefore slower response times, the Dec. 9 memo stated.
The Post revealed that top cop Jeffrey Maddrey was allegedly trading overtime for sex at police headquarters.
Epps claimed in graphic detail in an exclusive interview with The Post that Maddrey, the highest ranking uniformed officer in the NYPD, coerced her to have sex in his office between eight and 10 times, in exchange for the massive overtime.
Her lawyer, Eric Sanders, filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, a precursor to a lawsuit.
Former NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey with his lawyer Lambros Lambrou in Manhattan on Dec. 26. Brigitte Stelzer
Maddrey abruptly retired the day of The Post report.
He claimed through his lawyer on Friday that he had a “consensual, adult relationship” with Epps, but denied her accusation of “coercion.” The lawyer, Lambros Lambrou, said Maddrey had no authority to sign off on overtime pay.
In response, Epps’ attorney told The Post, “This clown is a f–king disgrace. We have a treasure trove of digital data that will hopefully bring this degenerate to justice.”
In a dramatic and unexpected move, Jessica Tisch, the newly appointed Chief of Department for the NYPD, has ousted dozens of top-ranking bosses in a shocking purge. The shake-up, which took place overnight, has left many within the department reeling and wondering about the future direction of the force.
Tisch, who was brought in to lead the department earlier this year, has wasted no time in making her mark on the organization. The exact reasons for the mass firings have not been disclosed, but sources within the department have speculated that it may be part of a larger effort to weed out corruption and inefficiency.
The ousted bosses, many of whom were long-time veterans of the force, have been replaced by a new wave of leaders handpicked by Tisch herself. The sudden and sweeping changes have sent shockwaves through the NYPD, with many officers feeling uncertain about what the future holds.
Tisch’s bold move has garnered both praise and criticism from within the department and the community at large. Some see it as a necessary step towards reform and modernization, while others worry about the destabilizing effects of such a large-scale shake-up.
As the dust settles on this unprecedented purge, all eyes will be on Jessica Tisch as she works to reshape the NYPD in her own image. Only time will tell whether her bold leadership will lead to positive change or further turmoil within the department.
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Jessica Tisch, NYPD, purge, NYPD bosses, leadership shakeup, police department, management changes, New York City, law enforcement, internal restructuring, personnel changes, NYPD officials, department overhaul, top brass removal, leadership transition, police force, organizational shakeup
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said Monday it continues to operate under a “heightened threat environment” ahead of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration.
More than a million visitors are expected in Times Square on Tuesday to attend the 120th tradition of watching the ball drop on the stroke of the New Year.
This year, the NYPD’s class of more than 600 new recruits will work their first detail Tuesday night. At a press conference about security preparations on Monday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there are no credible threats to the Times Square event at this time, but the department has been operating in a “heightened threat environment” since the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
New York City has seen mass demonstrations against Israel, including the encampments, antisemitic rallying cries and clashes with police seen at Columbia University and New York University earlier this year.
“We remain vigilant,” Tisch told reporters. “The public can expect to see a tremendous amount of police resources deployed throughout the area and across the city. That includes members of some of our elite specialized units, including our emergency services unit, who will be strategically deployed throughout the area on rooftops. Our K-9 teams, who will patrol with bomb sniffing dogs. Our aviation unit will be in the skies scanning the event and the surrounding areas with special attention to the bridges and other landmarks. And of course, our drones will be deployed overhead to monitor the crowds in real time and watch for any suspicious or unusual activity.”
Last year, the NYPD had about four drone teams inside the “bow tie” and “frozen area” around Times Square for New Year’s Eve. That will increase to six drone teams – four inside the bow tie and two on the outer perimeter – this year, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said, adding that mobile drone teams will also operate around Manhattan and the rest of the city and monitor activity over the water as well.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall after meeting incoming “border czar” Tom Homan on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
A reporter at the press conference asked the NYPD if any extra security measures are being brought into Times Square in the wake of the suspected terror attack on a Christmas market in Germany last week. A psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia was reportedly arrested in connection to the Dec. 20 car-ramming at a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, that killed five people, including a nine-year-old boy, and injured over 200 others.
“Every year we formulate our plan based on incidents that are happening around the world, here in the city,” Rebecca Weiner, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, said. “Christmas markets – you just flagged a terrible incident in Germany involving Christmas markets – they’re a persistent, high-risk target, and so, frankly, are New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world, which is why we put so much emphasis on all of the resources that are here focused on keeping this city and this event safe. So it’s absolutely calibrated to what’s happening overseas.”
Noting precautions against vehicle ramming incidents, including NYPD trucks and blocked cars at the scene, Weiner added, “We are very confident it’s going to be a safe and enjoyable evening for all.”
People participate in the New Year’s Eve Confetti Test in Times Square on Dec. 29, 2024, in New York City. On New Year’s Eve, 3,000 pounds of confetti will be released over Times Square. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
The NYPD was also asked to address the emerging threat of the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA). Weiner said there was no specific threat related to the gang in connection to the Times Square event, but the TdA matter is “just something persistently that we deal with in the large panoply of crime issues that we are very good at handling all year.”
“There’s been a ton of work being done by our detective bureau, patrol bureau, our bureau over in intel and counterterrorism,” she said. “This is an issue that we’re dealing with not specific to New Year’s Eve, Times Square. But some newly emergent threats, newly emergent crime patterns that we have, again, tried to combat very early and very deeply so that we haven’t had the entrenchment of some of this gang here in the city that you’ve seen elsewhere across the country.”
The NYPD will also utilize pickpocket teams, as well as “hotel response teams” to monitor for suspicious activity or other “anomalous” events.
An aerial photo taken on New Year’s Eve in Times Square on Dec. 31, 2023. (Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images)
Tisch said all manholes, mailboxes, vending machines and litter baskets in the “frozen zone” around Times Square will be either sealed or removed, and frozen safety lanes will be created around the event using blocker cars and concrete barriers.
“And, as always, there will be plenty of security measures that you will not see,” the police commissioner said. “No one handles large-scale events like this better than the NYPD, but of course we do not do it alone. The Joint Operations Center will be fully activated with all of our city, state, and federal partners.”
Amid a string of high-profile subway crimes and killings – notably, Daniel Penny’s acquittal and the arrest of an illegal immigrant who allegedly set a sleeping woman on fire – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD officials still urged crowds to use public transportation to get to the Times Square New Year’s Eve event. Despite forecasts of rain, NYPD officials said no umbrellas will be allowed in the viewing area. Backpacks, large bags, coolers, chairs and alcohol are also prohibited.
As New York City prepares to ring in the new year, the NYPD has announced that they will be maintaining a “heightened threat environment” in Times Square for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration.
This decision comes in light of recent terrorist attacks around the world, as well as the ongoing threat of lone wolf attacks. The NYPD will be increasing security measures, including the presence of heavily armed officers, bomb-sniffing dogs, and radiation detectors.
Despite the increased security, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities. Times Square is expected to be packed with revelers, and the NYPD is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone in attendance.
As we look forward to a new year full of promise and hope, let us also remember the importance of staying vigilant and working together to keep our city safe. Happy New Year, and may 2022 be a year of peace and prosperity for all.
