75% of Arrests in MidTown Are Illegal Immigrants

New York City's criminal courts are seeing a surge in migrant-related arrests, with law enforcement estimating that up to 75% of recent offenders in Midtown are newly arrived asylum seekers. As the city's sanctuary laws prevent coordination with ICE, authorities are struggling to keep up with a growing wave of crimes ranging from petty theft to violent assaults, fueling concern among officials and residents alike.

He was one of five migrants appearing for arraignment in a Manhattan courtroom last week, part of a growing trend overwhelming New York's criminal justice system. Recently arrived migrants are being arrested at a rate far higher than officials have publicly acknowledged, according to law enforcement sources.

Police estimate that 75% of recent arrests in Midtown Manhattan for crimes like assault, robbery, and domestic violence involve migrants. In parts of Queens, the figure surpasses 60%. Criminal court dockets are increasingly filled with cases involving asylum seekers, many of whom have been caught up in a system hampered by sanctuary city laws. These laws prevent New York police from working with federal immigration officials, making it nearly impossible to track the immigration status of suspects and compounding the challenges for law enforcement.

“New York City has taken away a tool to deal with violent criminals,” said Jim Quinn, a former Queens prosecutor. “It’s a disaster.”

According to sources, word has spread through shelters about the city's lenient bail policies, leading many migrants to believe they’ll quickly be released after an arrest. A City Hall spokesperson pointed to Mayor Eric Adams' push for the City Council to revise sanctuary city laws. But for now, authorities must follow the law, which prohibits coordination with ICE.

While overall crime is reportedly down, NYPD officers and court workers say the surge in migrant-related offenses is undeniable. “Around 75% of the arrests we make in Midtown are migrants—mostly for robberies, assaults, and selling counterfeit goods,” said one Midtown officer. “They target high-end stores like Lululemon and Sunglass Hut, and they’re behind most of the pickpocketing and chain snatching.”

The situation is similar in Queens. An officer at the Queens Criminal Courthouse noted that on certain days, they need extra Spanish interpreters because so many of the cases involve migrants. Another officer added, “On Mondays, almost every case is a migrant.”

The crimes range from petty theft to violent offenses. For example, Venezuelan migrant Yurlex Daniel Guzman Quintero was recently arraigned in Queens for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend with a knife in front of her child. Meanwhile, migrant Dionisio Moran Flores was charged in Manhattan with the rape of his 5-year-old daughter.

Adding to the issue is the arrival of Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan prison gang that has already been linked to numerous crimes in New York, including the shootings of two NYPD officers in June. The gang has been smuggling guns into city-run shelters disguised as food deliveries to evade metal detectors.

Law enforcement officials blame the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies and New York's sanctuary laws for exacerbating the problem. "Crime would be down significantly if there was a wall and we could track who enters the country," one officer said. "And more importantly, we could deport those who commit crimes."

Many migrants arrested multiple times are quick to return to the streets to reoffend. “They don’t care if they get arrested—they laugh at the idea of being sent to Rikers. Where they come from, jail is much worse,” a Bronx cop explained.

The city’s shelters currently house around 64,000 migrants, with arrest rates remaining high. In Jackson Heights, a Queens officer estimated that more than 60% of arrests are migrant-related, with charges ranging from robbery to grand larceny and assault. Residents in neighborhoods like Elmhurst and Roosevelt Avenue say they’ve watched their communities deteriorate.

Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, criticized the justice system for failing to protect the city. “Word has gotten out that you can come to New York, commit crimes, and be back on the streets the next day,” Hendry said. “That message needs to change.”

Despite attempts by some migrants to pursue a lawful path, many find it difficult to adjust to life in the U.S. “I walked through the woods to reach the American Dream, but it’s not what they said it would be,” said Maldenado, a migrant arrested for theft.

Another migrant, Juan Bernalrodriguez, 45, from Colombia, was arrested for stealing French fries at La Guardia Airport.