NYC ICE Director Drops Bombshell – You’ll Never Guess How Long It Would Take to Deport Them All!

New York City is grappling with an overwhelming challenge: thousands of migrant criminals remain free on its streets, according to Kenneth Genalo, the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the NYC area. In his first interview since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency was announced, Genalo painted a dire picture of the situation, highlighting how resource limitations and local policies have hamstrung federal enforcement efforts.

“In New York City, it would take a lifetime to clear the city of the criminals that we have,” Genalo shared with The Post. The veteran ICE official, who oversees nearly 400 staff members, called for additional resources to address the growing crisis. “The fact is that I have to focus all of my resources on the worst of the worst, the most egregious violators,” he added.

The numbers are staggering. ICE reports that, out of the estimated 7.8 million undocumented immigrants across the U.S., 662,586 are either convicted felons or facing criminal charges. Meanwhile, New York City has seen an influx of over 223,000 migrants since the immigration surge began in 2022, with at least 58,000 currently housed in taxpayer-funded shelters. ICE has not disclosed how many among them have criminal records, but Genalo admitted the count is “in the thousands.”

Sanctuary Policies Shield Criminals

Genalo placed much of the blame on New York’s sanctuary city policies, which restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. He expressed frustration with these laws, saying, “The only people they’re shielding are the criminals, and they’re shielding the criminals from us.”

He also pointed out the devastating consequences these policies have on vulnerable migrant communities. “The majority of these crimes that are being committed are against the most vulnerable people in the community, and that’s the migrant females and the migrant children,” he stated. Genalo expressed a desire to testify before the City Council to educate its members on the damage being done by their decisions.

A Long History of Non-Cooperation

The roots of New York City’s non-cooperation policies trace back to former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration. In 2014, de Blasio signed legislation preventing the NYPD from assisting ICE with deportation efforts for dangerous migrants. The policy was further entrenched in 2018, when the city implemented additional protocols to codify its refusal to collaborate with federal immigration officials.

Critics have pointed to several tragedies they say could have been avoided had these policies not been in place. One notable case is that of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant released by NYC authorities despite prior child endangerment charges.

Calls for Change

In a rare moment of agreement with ICE, current Mayor Eric Adams has advocated for loosening sanctuary rules to allow migrants suspected of serious crimes to be handed over to federal authorities. However, his efforts have faced resistance from the City Council’s progressive majority.

“The mayor knows we need to cooperate,” Genalo said, acknowledging Adams’ attempts to address the crisis. “He sees what’s going on in New York City, and he wants help from the federal government.”

Despite the mayor’s stance, change remains an uphill battle. Genalo emphasized the urgent need for increased federal resources and cooperation at all levels of government to tackle the issue. “We need additional resources,” he said, pointing to the vast numbers his team deals with daily.

A Grim Outlook

For now, Genalo’s team is left prioritizing the most dangerous offenders. Yet even with this focused approach, the sheer scale of the problem makes progress feel insurmountable. Without significant policy shifts and a boost in resources, the migrant criminal crisis could remain a thorn in New York City’s side for years—if not decades—to come.