Following a shooting incident in New York City on 2024-MM-DD, where an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer was wounded, the Trump administration announced a renewed focus on sanctuary cities. The administration, labeling these cities "sanctuaries for criminals," vowed to increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent deployment. Two undocumented men from the Dominican Republic, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa, were arrested in connection with the shooting. Nunez, who had been arrested four times since illegally entering the US in 2023, was described as the main suspect.

Tom Homan, former ICE director, pledged to "flood the zone" with ICE agents to overcome the lack of cooperation from Democrat-run municipalities. He stated that every sanctuary city is unsafe and that the administration would prioritize targeting these areas. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem linked the shooting directly to the sanctuary city policies of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Biden administration's border security approach. Noem criticized Adams despite reported cooperation agreements between the city and the Trump administration on immigration matters. She also cited crime increases in Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles, attributing them to sanctuary city policies.

Homan refuted claims that the majority of those detained by ICE were not criminals, citing statistics indicating a high percentage of those arrested had criminal records or final removal orders. He also noted the detention of several hundred Iranian nationals deemed national security threats.

Impact Statement: The renewed focus on sanctuary cities is expected to lead to increased ICE activity in these areas, potentially escalating tensions between federal and local authorities.