Immigration Raids Shock New York City Residents
Bronx Residents React with Concern to Early Morning ICE Actions
Residents of the Bronx were startled early Tuesday morning by an immigration raid that left many questioning the aggressive actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in their neighborhood. At around 6 a.m., the building manager of a Bronx apartment complex received phone calls from tenants reporting that ICE had arrived.
“They were telling me that ICE was there,” said the building manager, who wished to remain anonymous. “It was a complete surprise.”
The Bronx was among the latest targets of ICE’s nationwide raids, a part of the Trump administration’s heightened push to increase deportations. These actions are designed to make immigration enforcement more visible, with the goal of sending a strong message, particularly in major cities like New York.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to social media to confirm that she was present during the raid in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, where ICE officers, alongside other law enforcement agencies, arrested at least one undocumented individual.
Despite the long-standing crime issues in the area, many residents and business owners expressed shock at the immigration enforcement activity. “I think it’s OK if they need to arrest someone for a crime they committed, but I worry that ICE might arrest people who haven’t done anything wrong,” said one 28-year-old business owner, speaking in Spanish and requesting anonymity for fear of retribution.
According to the Furman Center at New York University, Highbridge has a higher serious crime rate compared to the citywide average. While city and state laws prohibit local police from participating in civil immigration enforcement, the New York Police Department (NYPD) is a part of the Homeland Security Investigations task force, which focuses on federal criminal law violations. This partnership led to NYPD officers being present during Tuesday’s enforcement operation, which was focused on an individual suspected of serious crimes, including kidnapping, assault, and burglary.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended the collaboration with federal authorities, stating that the operation was led by the Department of Homeland Security with support from federal and local law enforcement agencies. “We will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice,” Adams said in a statement. “Our commitment to protecting our city’s law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.”
The raid sent shockwaves across the city, especially among the large immigrant population. Many recent migrants are currently staying in temporary shelters, such as the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Isabel Miranda, a 39-year-old Colombian mother of two, has been staying at the hotel for a few weeks. Her young daughter, just 3 years old, expressed fear of the police. "It makes you desperate," Miranda said. "We contribute too because we work hard and do the tough work."
Miranda shared her fear of deportation but emphasized her desire for her children’s safety. "The only thing I ask for is that my children remain safe, because I can’t go back to Colombia."
Recent data from the Trump administration shows that approximately half of those arrested by ICE in recent months have no criminal records.
For some immigrants, the threat of deportation is a daily concern. Ihan Forero, an 8-year-old boy from Colombia, shared his feelings of fear when asked about President Trump. "Fear," he said. "He has a cold heart."
Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, condemned the enforcement actions, calling them a “publicity blitz” by the Department of Homeland Security. He criticized the Trump administration for using these raids to instill fear in immigrant communities rather than focusing on public safety.
"No matter how the Trump administration spins this enforcement, it is not about public safety — it is about instilling fear in our immigrant communities," Awawdeh said in a statement.