Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Photo: ICE Facebook
David EscobarImmigration arrests surge in New York under ‘Operation Rotten Apple’
Federal immigration officials arrested nearly 2,200 people across New York state last month, marking the highest monthly total since the Trump administration began its immigration crackdown.
The arrests were part of a federal operation called “Operation Rotten Apple,” which took place between July 27 and Aug.29.
Earlier this week, Homeland Security officials said 2,197 people were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents statewide—a more than 40% increase from the previous month, according to federal data obtained by the Deportation Data Project.
Arrests by ICE agents in New York state have been on the rise since April 2026. Under Operation Rotten Apple, ICE arrested 2,197 individuals from July 27 through Aug. 29, up from 1,550 individuals in July 2026. Data provided by the Deportation Data Project.
In the North Country, federal agents have detained dozens of immigrant workers in recent months, including hotel employees, roofing contractors and restaurant workers in Lake Placid.
Lake Placid Mayor Art Devlin said the increased presence of immigration agents is creating another challenge for local hospitality businesses already struggling to find enough workers.
“Obviously, it is a problem,” Devlin said. “We have had some of the motel owners that are concerned. There’s just not enough workforce here temporarily to cover everything.”
Even as summer tourism season winds down, Devlin said many local businesses continue to rely on immigrants to fill gaps in the year-round workforce.
At a press conference in New York City earlier this week, ERO Buffalo field office acting director Philip Rhoney said agents were targeting people the agency considered criminal offenders.
“Public safety threats don’t stop at the New York City line,” Rhoney said. “They move through Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, the North Country and the communities along our northern border.”
ICE has not disclosed how many of the arrests during the operation occurred in upstate New York or the North Country. The agency also did not say how many of the individuals had pending criminal charges.
Downtown Lake Placid, NY. Photo: Emily Russell
A month before Operation Rotten Apple, an analysis of federal data by the New York Times found that the majority of immigrants arrested in New York during July had not previously been charged with a crime.
Homeland Security officials said the operation was primarily a response to a new state law limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul directed local law enforcement agencies to end what are known as 287(g) agreements, which authorize state and local police to collaborate with federal immigration agencies. Dozens of local police forces, including the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, were ordered to suspend their 287(g) agreements by the end of August to abide by the governor’s order. According to Hochul, the 287(g) agreements take resources away from focusing on local law enforcement duties.
“Here in New York, we need local police focused on keeping our communities safe—not serving as de-facto ICE agents, not conducting civil immigration enforcement, and not carrying out the Trump Administration’s callous immigration agenda,” Hochul stated in a news release.
David Escobar is a Report For America Corps Member. He reports on diversity issues in the Adirondacks through a partnership between North Country Public Radio and Adirondack Explorer.