The Trump-appointed ICE agents made the remark while announcing the arrests of roughly 2,100 people in New York by ICE agents over the last month. He threatened to surge more ICE agents into the Big Apple if local elected officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, did not agree to work with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement. 

Speaking from the third floor of 26 Federal Plaza — the Lower Manhattan immigration courthouse that became the focal point of ICE detentions during the summer of 2025 — Mullin criticized Hochul and Mamdani for supporting “sanctuary” policies that limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE. He claimed that the Trump administration was looking to “restore” law and order in New York City by targeting immigrants. 

“We will send as many people as we have possible to make sure that we’re restoring law and order,” Mullin said.

“President Trump made this very, very clear. He loves New York. He made that very clear over and over again. He wants to see law and order restored,” Mullin added before calling New York a “crime-ridden city” led by “your socialist mayor and your liberal government.”

The NYPD has yet to release crime figures for August, but through July, the department indicated it was on pace for a historic year with record-low numbers of shootings and murders citywide. There had been 149 murders year-to-date through July 31, 2026, beating the previous record low of 174 murders set in 2017. The record-low crime numbers have been achieved despite an ongoing staffing crisis at the NYPD in which the department’s total headcount hovers at about 35,000 members.

amNewYork reached out to the NYPD for comment about Mullin’s remarks and is awaiting a response.

Mamdani rep pushes back on Mullin’s immigration claims
Standing before a display of mugshots labeled with alleged crimes including rape and murder, Mullin said the Trump administration would continue expanding its immigration enforcement presence in New York with more agents if local authorities won’t aid them.Photo by Dean Moses

The city’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs pushed back against Mullin’s remarks. Commissioner Faiza N. Ali told amNewYork that she listened to the Sept. 1 press conference and said it underscores the importance of ensuring New Yorkers understand their legal rights amid heightened immigration enforcement.

“I had the unfortunate chance of actually having listened to that press conference,” Ali said. “What we can say is this: It’s really clear to us, having worked with community partners on the ground, that there is increased immigration enforcement activity happening across New York City. Our role as city officials is to make sure that our communities know what their rights are, that they know where to turn to for legal support.”

Commissioner Faiza N. Ali told amNewYork that she listened to the Sept. 1 press conference and said it underscores the importance of ensuring New Yorkers understand their legal rights amid heightened immigration enforcement.Photo by Dean Moses

Ali acknowledged that many immigrant communities are living with fear and uncertainty.

“It’s understandable the level of fear and uncertainty that communities across New York City are experiencing,” she said. “The message we are sending to New Yorkers is that they’re not alone.”

Criminals arrested in ‘Operation Rotten Apple’

In addition to warning that more ICE agents could be deployed to Gotham, Mullin said the recent enforcement surge, dubbed “Operation Rotten Apple,” resulted in about 2,100 arrests.

Among those highlighted by the secretary were Ukrainian national Bogdan Detrovich Gren, who was taken into custody on allegations including murder and abduction, and Colombian national Andreas Bernal Chiquito, who was arrested after previously facing charges related to sexual conduct against a child.

Mullin said the recent enforcement surge, dubbed “Operation Rotten Apple,” resulted in about 2,100 arrests.Photo by Dean Moses

While Mullin highlighted several individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a nonpartisan research organization at Syracuse University, reports that about 70% of people currently held in ICE detention do not have a criminal record.

Mullin defended the administration’s approach.

“When you choose to take the shortcut, you have made a conscious decision to enter this country illegally and break our nation’s laws,” Mullin said. “If you’re here illegally, regardless of your status, if you’re a convicted criminal or not, you’re still in this country illegally, and it is our job to hunt you down and to deport you.”

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, described the latest enforcement actions as part of a broader escalation by the federal government.

“The Trump administration has been escalating across the state of New York since day one of this administration,” Awawdeh told amNewYork. “For a year and eight months, we have witnessed them escalate across the entire state, from raiding farms and manufacturing plants to randomly stopping people in the streets, pulling over vehicles across our state and conducting traffic stops. We are in a state of emergency.”

Murad Awawde, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, described the latest enforcement actions as part of a broader escalation by the federal government.Photo by Dean Moses

“While they continue to threaten us, we’re going to continue to stand up and ensure that we’re defending one another,” he added.

Hannah Stauss, co-founder of Hands Off NYC, also condemned Mullin’s remarks, calling the press conference part of a “retribution campaign.”

“Mullin is spewing lies from the podium as some sick attempt to manufacture a retribution campaign against a city for standing up to fascism,” part of Stauss’ statement read. “We are not fooled. ICE is a rogue, violent agency acting with unchecked force that must be abolished.”

Deborah Chen, Associate Director of New York Legal Assistance Group’s Immigrant Protection Unit also condemned the comments. 

“The federal government rounding up thousands of immigrant New Yorkers and threatening to send more enforcement this fall is an affront to New York’s core value as an immigrant city. New York will remain a city that welcomes and protects New Yorkers—whether they arrived yesterday or generations ago—who make our city richer, safer, and greater,” Chen said.

amNewYork reached out to Hochul’s office and is awaiting a response.