New York, NY — Federal immigration enforcement tensions intensified this week after Sen. Markwayne Mullin publicly declared that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would continue arrest operations in New York despite resistance from state and city officials. Mullin accused New York leaders of refusing to cooperate with federal efforts targeting undocumented immigrants accused of crimes, escalating an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and sanctuary jurisdictions.
During televised remarks, Mullin said ICE agents would pursue “the worst of the worst” in New York even after requests for local assistance were rejected. He claimed federal authorities had sought cooperation from Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and other officials regarding individuals with outstanding warrants or deportation orders.
“We’re going to be serving judicial warrants. We’re going to be using administrative warrants in some cases,” Mullin said. “There’s a lot of known criminals that are harboring themselves in New York.”
Mullin, however, is a U.S. senator from Oklahoma — not the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, as some social media posts incorrectly stated.
Immigration enforcement dispute deepens
The comments come as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement efforts nationwide, particularly in cities and states with sanctuary-style policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
New York officials have repeatedly defended those policies, arguing they improve public safety by encouraging immigrant communities to report crimes and cooperate with police without fear of deportation. Critics, including Republican lawmakers and immigration hardliners, argue the policies shield dangerous offenders from federal enforcement.
Federal immigration agents can carry out arrests under both judicial warrants signed by judges and administrative immigration warrants issued through federal immigration proceedings. The use of administrative warrants, however, has remained controversial because local jurisdictions are generally not required to honor detention requests tied solely to immigration enforcement.
Mullin claimed New York officials “flat out told us no” when ICE sought assistance in apprehending certain individuals. He framed the operations as part of President Donald Trump’s broader promise to restore stricter immigration enforcement nationwide.
Hochul administration has defended state policies
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration has consistently pushed back against accusations that New York protects violent offenders. State officials have argued that local agencies still cooperate with federal authorities in cases involving serious criminal activity while maintaining limits on broader immigration enforcement participation.
New York City has also faced mounting pressure over immigration issues following a surge of migrants arriving over the past two years. City leaders have struggled with shelter capacity, rising costs, and political divisions surrounding immigration policy.
The latest rhetoric signals a potentially sharper confrontation between federal immigration authorities and Democratic-led states resisting expanded cooperation efforts.
Legal experts note that while federal agencies maintain authority to enforce immigration law, disputes often arise over how much assistance state and local governments must provide. Courts have repeatedly ruled that the federal government cannot compel local jurisdictions to enforce federal immigration policies directly.
Administrative warrants remain contentious
One of the central points in the dispute involves ICE’s use of administrative warrants rather than criminal judicial warrants.
Administrative warrants are commonly used in immigration enforcement but are issued by immigration authorities rather than judges. Many sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to hold individuals solely on ICE detainers connected to administrative warrants, citing constitutional concerns and liability risks.
Supporters of expanded ICE enforcement argue those limitations allow some undocumented immigrants accused of crimes to avoid federal custody. Opponents argue local governments should not function as extensions of federal immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration has signaled it plans to expand deportation operations in major metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other sanctuary cities.
“We’re going to restore law and order,” he said. “Regardless of if the governor says or not.”
