Trump Officials Criticize New York Sanctuary Policies After Border Agent Shooting

Following the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer in New York City by an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal record, President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, vowed to increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in sanctuary cities, labeling them as "sanctuaries for criminals." Homan criticized policies in sanctuary cities that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, specifically targeting New York City's Democratic leadership for allowing criminal aliens to remain free. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials condemned sanctuary city policies, arguing they enable dangerous criminals to evade deportation and called on mayors and governors to revise these laws. The suspects involved in the shooting were undocumented immigrants with extensive rap sheets, and officials accused Biden-era policies of facilitating their release into communities. The administration emphasized that if criminals cannot be arrested in jail due to sanctuary policies, they will be pursued directly in the community, signaling an aggressive federal crackdown. Mayor Ben Walsh of Syracuse, a city often described as a sanctuary, has emphasized a welcoming stance while police there avoid enforcing federal immigration laws, highlighting the ongoing tension between local policies and federal enforcement plans under the Trump administration.