Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted high-stakes street arrests in Brooklyn targeting undocumented migrants, as New York City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, continue to oppose federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary city policies. Ken Genalo, head of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in New York City, criticized city and state leaders, stating their policies put officers and the public at risk and could be avoided with greater cooperation.
Fox News Digital embedded with ICE agents for a firsthand look at the surveillance, stakeouts, and split-second decisions involved in these arrests. The operation on a Thursday morning saw agents apprehend two men, one of whom resisted.
Genalo asserted that sanctuary laws force ICE to track down individuals who should have been turned over by local jails, leading agents to apprehend migrants on city streets. He claimed these policies ignore victims and "angel families" affected by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
The arrests occurred amid heightened tensions, following a recent incident where a migrant allegedly rammed officers with a vehicle. This migrant had accumulated numerous charges, including theft, robbery, assault, and weapons offenses, within three years of arriving in the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Earlier in August, ICE arrested nearly 2,200 undocumented migrants during a statewide operation dubbed "Operation Rotten Apple." The recent Brooklyn arrests highlighted the meticulous surveillance and planning involved in these operations.
ICE agents gathered before dawn for a briefing, receiving intelligence on targets and potential risks. Equipped with body cameras, they began their operation around 5:50 a.m.
One target was Nika Tkeshelashvili, a Georgian national accused of illegal entry in January 2023 and facing a pending sexual abuse charge. ICE noted his next immigration court hearing was scheduled for October 2028, a five-year wait.
Agents employed surveillance to determine Tkeshelashvili's routine, anticipating he would emerge to move his car. After a period of waiting, he was apprehended without struggle. Genalo described the arrest as "textbook" and "flawless," emphasizing the importance of speed and surprise.
In another incident, agents pursued an Ecuadorian migrant facing sexual misconduct charges involving a child. However, this operation was reportedly disrupted by individuals alerting locals to the agents' presence.
The second arrest involved Yves Frantz Augustine, a Haitian national who overstayed his visa after legally entering the U.S. in 1997. Ordered deported in 2006, he had accumulated a criminal record, including a prison sentence for assault. ICE had previously attempted to deport him, but the process was hindered by a lack of travel documents from Haiti. New York authorities had also reportedly refused to hand him over to ICE on three occasions despite detainer requests.
Agents waited until Augustine dropped off a child before making the arrest, adhering to ICE policy that avoids apprehensions near schools or in the presence of children. Augustine resisted being handcuffed, leading to a struggle against a storefront shutter. He questioned the arrest and claimed U.S. citizenship, which Genalo refuted based on the 2006 deportation order.
Genalo criticized New York City's sanctuary policies, stating they allow individuals with criminal histories, including violent offenses, to remain in communities. He recounted a time when ICE worked closely with local police, processing numerous arrests directly from local jails, a practice he said has since ended.
He blamed former Mayor Bill de Blasio for ending the cooperation and indicated that while former Mayor Eric Adams attempted to restore it, he was limited by the City Council. Genalo also criticized anti-ICE protest networks that monitor federal operations.
Despite the ongoing friction, Genalo expressed a willingness to collaborate with city leaders, stating, "I just wish we could sit down and collaborate and come to an agreement because we have the same job to do, and that's to keep the people of the community of New York City safe."