Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to New York City on Thursday to announce the arrests of 54 people connected to the Dominican gang known as the Trinitarios, a day after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis who authorities say had been tracking immigration officers.
“We’re hoping the mayor will work with us to get these criminal elements and especially gang members and terrorist organizations out of New York City, Noem said.
What You Need To Know
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday announced the arrests of 54 people tied to the Dominican gang Trinitarios during a visit to New York City
The arrests stem from an investigation launched after an off-duty CBP agent was shot and wounded during an alleged robbery attempt
At the press conference, Noem defended an ICE agent who fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, calling her actions domestic terrorism
Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the Minneapolis shooting and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to its sanctuary laws
The arrests stem from a federal investigation dubbed Operation Salvo, which was launched after two men from the Dominican Republic who were in the country without authorization allegedly attempted to rob an off-duty Customs and Border Protection agent.
One of the suspects allegedly shot the agent in the face and arm. The agent survived.
Authorities said the suspected shooter, Miguel Mora, and the moped driver, Cristhian Aybar, face both federal and state charges.
When asked how to prevent the fatal shooting in Minneapolis from happening in New York, Noem said cooperation between federal and local officials is critical.
“Many times, your policies and the rhetoric coming out of elected officials has divided people,” Noem said.
Federal officials said investigators used data-driven methods to identify suspects.
“We used our mapping techniques, looking at individuals with criminal records, arrest warrants, removal orders and again, picking them off one by one,” said Frank Russo, director of field operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office.
Taking questions from reporters, Noem defended the ICE agent involved in the Minneapolis shooting, which left 37-year-old Renee Good dead after she was operating a vehicle. Noem characterized Good’s actions as domestic terrorism.
“This vehicle was used to hit this officer. It was used as a weapon, and the officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy,” Noem said.
Protesters demonstrated outside One World Trade Center, where the news conference was held.
Meanwhile, democratic officials in New York broadly condemned the shooting.
“The news coming out of Minneapolis was horrific,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a press conference this week.
On social media, Mamdani added that Good had been “murdered,” and on Wednesday, he reaffirmed his support for New York City’s sanctuary laws.
“I have made it clear to everyone within my city government, and that extends to NYPD, that we are going to uphold our sanctuary city policies,” the mayor said.
Noem said the surge in immigration enforcement would continue in Minneapolis.
Asked whether a similar enforcement surge was planned for New York City, she did not provide specifics, saying she did not want to telegraph future operations.