NEW YORK (TNND) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more than 2,100 people living in the U.S. illegally across New York during the past 30 days as part of Operation Rotten Apple, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced Tuesday.

Mullin said the arrests included alleged gang members, rapists, murderers and child predators. “That’s the worst of the worst,” he said.

The operation ran from July 27 through Aug. 9 and covered New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and other parts of New York, according to ERO New York Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo.

“These individuals should never have been on our streets,” Mullin said at a news conference. He accused New York sanctuary policies of protecting people in the country illegally while ICE officers are “out there every day protecting Americans.”

Mullin also criticized New York sanctuary politicians, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and claimed the state had released more than 13,000 criminal defendants despite ICE detainer requests. “Before you put them back on the streets, let us deport them,” Mullin said. “No, they released 13,000.”

He said Operation Rotten Apple focused on people New York authorities had released and that federal officials would continue targeting people they say pose public-safety threats.

Mullin, however, said ICE enforcement is not limited to people accused or convicted of other crimes. He argued that anyone living in the country illegally had violated federal law and could face deportation.

“If you’re here illegally, regardless of your status, if you’re a convicted criminal or not it is our job to hunt you down and to deport you,” Mullin said.

Mullin singled out several cases, including a Ukrainian national with convictions that he said included kidnapping, weapons possession and murder; an Indian national convicted of rape in Germany; and a Colombian national arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting a child.

He also criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to end 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement agencies to work with ICE on immigration enforcement. “All we’re trying to do is get the criminals off our streets,” Mullin said.