NYC ICE director declares ‘it would take a lifetime’ to deport the city’s migrant criminals
SUMMARY
Kenneth Genalo, the NYC field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), voiced his frustration over the challenges posed by New York’s sanctuary city policies, stating it could "take a lifetime" to deport the city's criminal illegal aliens under current laws. Genalo, a 33-year ICE veteran overseeing nearly 400 staffers, criticized the policies for shielding criminals, particularly those who target vulnerable migrant women and children. With over 223,000 migrants arriving in NYC since 2022 and more than 58,000 still in taxpayer-funded shelters, the exact number of criminal aliens remains unclear. However, ICE reports that 662,586 illegal aliens nationwide are convicted felons or face criminal charges. Genalo linked the current enforcement challenges to policies enacted under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, which barred the NYPD from cooperating with federal immigration officials. Mayor Eric Adams has since called for loosening these rules for serious crimes.
