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ICE agents in NYC area take at least 20 people into custody in early morning operation, sources say

20 arrests made during NYC ICE operation, sources say
20 arrests made during NYC ICE operation, sources say 02:50

NEW YORK -- A major immigration crackdown continued in the New York City metropolitan area on Tuesday.

Federal law enforcement sources confirm at least 20 people were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The operation in New York City began early Tuesday morning. Video shows agents with ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration in the Bronx, where a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member with ties to Colorado was taken into custody.

"This is the DEA working with federal partners from DHS, specifically from HSI, ICE and ERO on those very specific violent criminal aliens who are causing the most harm, who are responsible for the death destruction that is playing out across America," said Frank Tarentino, DEA New York special agent in charge.

Sources tell CBS News New York law enforcement agencies visited three locations in the borough -- one on Ogden Avenue, one on Devoe Terrace and another on Creston Avenue.

"I have a newborn, so I'm walking out with a newborn, and it's hard to even get through the stairs because of them, so I'm glad they're gone," said one man who lives at the Ogden Avenue building. "I was planning on calling ICE, to be honest with you, so they got here before I was able to call them."

"To be honest, I feel bad for those people that really came to this country to get a better future, but a fault of all the criminals, now those people have to pay," another person in the neighborhood added.

In Washington Heights, agents took a man into custody they say was wanted for a double homicide in the Dominican Republic.

The raids came as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing Tuesday that anyone who enters the country illegally is considered a criminal and subject to deportation.

Twelve of the immigrants arrested in New York on Tuesday had criminal records, authorities say. The other eight people had no criminality associated with their existence other than entering the country illegally.

"What they're trying to do is instill fear in our communities and continue to push this narrative that they're coming for everyone," said Murad Awawdeh with the New York Immigration Coalition.

Homeland Security says its goal is to arrest 500 people over a weeklong immigration operation in New York.

"We will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities," Adams says

Earlier, Mayor Eric Adams addressed the raids and New York City's cooperation with the feds.

"Early this morning -- as it regularly does as part of a multi-agency task force -- our city coordinated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on a federal criminal investigation involving a suspect hiding in New York City. Beforehand, I directed the NYPD to coordinate with DHS' Homeland Security Investigations and other federal law enforcement agencies -- as allowed by law -- to conduct a targeted operation to arrest an individual connected with multiple violent crimes, both here in New York and in Aurora, Colorado, including burglary, kidnapping, extortion, firearms possession, menacing with a firearm, crime of violence, and other charges," Adams said in a statement. "As I have repeatedly said, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice -- just as we have done for years. Our commitment to protecting our city's law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was on hand for one of the operations, was asked by CBS News about her conversation with Adams.

"The mayor's been fantastic. I talked to him on the phone probably four or five times last night," Noem said. "One of these individuals was so dangerous and that we needed the backup of the NYPD to be there in case things went south."

Noem was asked about the enforcement being captured by news cameras, and if it was by design.

"It's not a spectacle. This is ... this is our nation's law enforcement, judicial process. The scales of justice are equally applied to everybody. We want transparency on this. I believe that this is an accountability measure," Noem said.

ICE operations on the uptick

Since President Trump took office, ICE operations have picked up across the country. The agency said it arrested nearly 1,200 people on Monday alone, up from previous days and from the Biden administration, which averaged 312 arrests per day last year.

"In the first week of the Trump Administration, we have fulfilled President Trump's promise to the American people to arrest and deport violent criminals illegally in the country," the Department of Homeland Security said on social media Tuesday morning. 

Members of the NYPD were on the scene at Ogden Avenue, but state law prohibits the department from engaging in civil immigration enforcement, and officers did not enter the apartment. 

"Pursuant to New York City and New York State law, the NYPD does not engage in civil immigration enforcement, assist in any manner with civil immigration enforcement, or allow any Department resources to be used in connection with civil immigration enforcement," an NYPD spokesperson also said in a statement. "Also in accordance with city and state law, the Department continues to work daily with federal law enforcement agencies in connection with a wide range of criminal investigations. In particular, the Department participates in task forces with a variety of federal law enforcement agencies investigating violations of federal criminal law."

Sanctuary cities called to testify before Congress

Meanwhile, the House Overnight Committee is calling on the mayors of New York City, Boston, Chicago and Denver to testify before Congress about sanctuary jurisdictions.

In a letter, Chairman James Comer blasted their cities' policies as "misguided," "obstructionist," and "hinder(ing) the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrests."

"Mayor Adams has made clear that New York City is committed to working with our federal partners to fix our broken immigration system and focus on the smaller number of people who are entering our localities and committing violent crimes. We will review the letter and respond accordingly," Adams' office said in response Monday night. 

The hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11. The mayor has not yet said whether he will attend.   

NYC preparing for new immigration policies

Earlier this month, Adams met with Mr. Trump in Florida to discuss immigration and other issues. Days later, he canceled his MLK Day appearances to attend the inauguration.

"We had a new president and I've said it before, I'm not going to be warring with the president, I'm going to be working with the president and that's my responsibility as the mayor," Adams said when he returned from Washington, D.C.

Following the inauguration, the Justice Department issued a memo threatening charges against state and local officials who don't cooperate with federal immigration agents. The Department of Homeland Security also said ICE agents could now be allowed to go into schools and churches to carry out enforcement operations

With many concerned about what that would mean for New York's sanctuary city status, Adams told a town hall in Queens he believes any federal enforcement will be focused on a small number of people who commit violent crimes. 

"We are very clear: Children should go to school, those who need health care should go to hospitals, those who are involved in any kind of interaction where they are victims of crime, they should speak to the law enforcement agency," he said at the time. "We maintained that over and over again. We are gonna stand up for all New Yorkers - documented and undocumented."

The mayor has scaled back his public schedule this week, citing health concerns.

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