NYC Migrant Crimes Cost $7 Billion; Tren de Aragua Gang, 12-Year-Old Attacker Highlight GOP Sanctuary Policy Hearings with Hochul

New York City has seen a surge in criminal activity linked to illegal migrants, with over 3,200 individuals staying in taxpayer-funded shelters arrested for more than 16,000 crimes between January 2023 and October 2024. These crimes include drug offenses, assault, robbery, and sex crimes, costing taxpayers approximately $7 billion. A violent incident involving members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, including a 12-year-old, resulted in attacks on NYPD officers in Times Square. Mayor Eric Adams has called for the deportation of those involved.

The situation has prompted criticism of sanctuary city policies by Republican lawmakers, who argue these policies endanger public safety and call for border closures and defunding of sanctuary jurisdictions. In response, over 150 former federal and state judges have condemned the Trump administration's arrest of a Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing the detention of an immigrant, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the judiciary. Congressional hearings are scheduled for June 12, where New York Governor Kathy Hochul and other Democratic leaders will face questioning over sanctuary policies. President Donald Trump has criticized activist judges for interfering with deportations of violent illegal aliens and is actively working to deport these individuals. The House Oversight Committee is set to scrutinize sanctuary city policies amid growing concerns about law enforcement and public safety in affected areas.