New York City residents are breathing a collective sigh of relief as the Trump administration's renewed focus on immigration enforcement leads to the apprehension of dangerous criminals, including alleged Tren de Aragua gang leader Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, actively involved in the ICE operations in New York, shared that she has been met with gratitude from local residents. "People want their communities safe," Noem stated, emphasizing the positive feedback received by officers involved in the raids.
Noem's sentiments are echoed by residents in several communities. One individual, who had been planning to contact ICE himself, expressed relief after agents raided a local apartment housing a large group of illegal immigrants, describing the situation as detrimental to the building and neighborhood. The arrest of Zambrano-Pacheco also drew praise, with one resident telling The New York Post, "Thank God they got him." Another resident, 80-year-old Evelyn Brown, originally from Jamaica, voiced her support for the increased enforcement, emphasizing the need for safer streets.
Matthew Tragesser, senior communications director at the Heritage Foundation, lauded the Trump administration's swift action, highlighting the administration's focus on immigration-related executive orders aimed at strengthening border security and restricting immigration. He acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting the significant number of individuals who entered the country during the previous administration. New York City council member Vickie Paladino also expressed strong support for the crackdown, stating that the "party is over" for migrant criminals in the city.
