New federal data shows over 1,000 suspected gang members among illegal migrants in New York City. ICE reports that 1,053 migrants in the city are tied to gang activity, as the city struggles to manage an influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants.

Since 2022, over 223,000 migrants have arrived in New York. Federal authorities estimate the total migrant population now exceeds 759,000, with 58,626 individuals either convicted of crimes or facing charges.

The Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua has reportedly expanded operations in the city, attempting to recruit children in city-run shelters. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny confirmed 39 members of the gang have been identified, along with additional recruits from a subgroup.

Violent encounters with law enforcement have become increasingly common. Recently, two migrants were arrested after scuffling with police, one carrying a loaded AR-15. Earlier this year, another migrant accused of attacking NYPD officers mocked cameras upon release.

Mayor Eric Adams has called the crisis unsustainable, warning it could “destroy New York City.” The city has spent $5 billion on the migrant response and projects costs to rise to $12 billion by next year. Emergency actions include budget cuts and limiting shelter stays for migrants.

Nationally, nearly 7.8 million illegal migrants are estimated to reside in the US. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to address the issue with an aggressive deportation strategy targeting criminal migrants. His “border czar,” Tom Homan, has identified over 1.5 million convicted criminal aliens with removal orders.