New York Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis released a set of city government data on the 5th, which took a year and a half to obtain through a request, revealing crime statistics in and around immigrant shelters, sparking concerns. The data, obtained through a request under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), was responded to by the city government after a year and a half and multiple delays.
According to the data provided by the city government, from January 2023 to the end of October 2024, a total of 3,219 arrested immigrants registered the city-government-run shelters as their address, with the related costs of accommodating them in city-sponsored shelters or hotels reaching billions of dollars.
Among the 3,219 arrestees who listed shelters as their home addresses, the most common charges were theft, assault, drug crimes, grand larceny, and felony assault.
According to the data provided by the city government, over 16,000 criminal incidents occurred in or near immigrant detention facilities, with over 11,000 falling into seven major felony categories, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, grand larceny, and grand auto theft.
Malliotakis condemned the city government for attempting to cover up immigrant crime facts, criticizing that this forces taxpayers to foot the bill for the rising crime rates and deteriorating quality of life.
She emphasized that the city government has repeatedly assured the public that these immigrants are vetted asylum seekers, but the data now shows a different reality.
Malliotakis stated that she will continue to push for stricter border and immigration policies, urging the government to conduct more rigorous background checks on incoming populations, and demanding that the city government provide transparent and accountable explanations to taxpayers.
The New York City Police Department responded by stating that in the process of law enforcement, officers do not inquire about a suspect’s immigration status during a criminal investigation unless that status is directly related to the investigation. Therefore, not all related crimes can be confirmed as committed by undocumented immigrants.
The Mayor’s Office also pointed out that the current strain on the asylum system is mainly due to the federal government’s failure to provide sufficient support. Nevertheless, the city government, with limited resources, continues to maintain public safety, and the overall crime rate in the city has been steadily declining, with the total number of refugees in the detention system decreasing for ten consecutive months. Based on current trends, it is estimated that over 50 shelters will be closed by July 2025.