Mayor Eric Adams recently participated in an early-morning police raid in the Bronx, intensifying his message that the migrant crisis is leading to increased crime in New York City. The raid was tied to a major robbery ring, where many of the participants involved were believed to be recent migrants. The thieves, who predominantly live in the migrant shelter system, were conducting robberies by snatching cell phones and purses. Mr. Adams’s participation, which was highly publicized by the Police Department’s social media account, amplified the notion that the surge of migrants was wreaking havoc on the city.
Critics, including immigration advocates, denounced the raid as a political gimmick and condemned Mr. Adams’s xenophobic rhetoric towards migrants over the last year. Despite the opposition, the Mayor’s participation in the police raid signifies his commitment to holding migrants who commit crimes accountable. The raid yielded the discovery of 22 stolen phones at the residence of Victor Parra, the alleged orchestrator of the robberies. Parra would instruct his crew to steal specific types of phones and send the group notifications when he was available to receive them. However, it is important to note that despite this specific incident, overall crime rates in New York City have not experienced a significant increase as a result of migrants.
Mr. Adams’ decision to participate in the police raid comes in the wake of a political defeat in a showdown with the City Council over two criminal justice bills and is widely seen as an attempt to bolster his image as tough-on-crime. While he faces significant backlash for his actions, Adams remains steadfast in his commitment to fighting on behalf of New Yorkers and holding those responsible for criminal activity accountable. Ultimately, his message seems to resonate with a group of Republican elected officials, who are calling for the city to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport individuals responsible for recent attacks committed by migrants. This aligns with Adams’ continued pleas for more federal aid for cities impacted by the migrant crisis.
