Staten Island Reporter

(NEW YORK, NY) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis criticized New York City officials for allegedly withholding the number of illegal immigrants arrested in and around migrant shelters following the shooting of two NYPD officers by a Venezuelan national and Tren de Aragua gang member residing at a migrant shelter in Queens earlier this week.

On October 2, 2023, Malliotakis and a bipartisan group of local elected officials sent a letter to NYPD Commissioner Caban requesting information on migrant crime in New York City. After receiving no response, Malliotakis' office submitted a FOIL request on January 8, 2024. The city acknowledged the request on January 14, 2024, stating that a response could be expected by May 22, 2024. However, on May 28, 2024, the city extended the deadline to August 19, 2024.

NBC New York reported partial city data showing at least 1,200 arrests across 30 migrant shelters as of February 2, 2024.

"If it’s so hard for a Member of Congress to get simple crime statistics from New York City in compliance with the FOIL, imagine how hard it is for ordinary taxpaying citizens to obtain information regarding public safety," Malliotakis said. "The city must be forthcoming with this information, especially since the only time we ever find out about criminals residing in our migrant shelters is AFTER they commit a rape, murder or other violent crime. President Biden, Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams all told us these individuals were vetted and every day we learn of another example of how that's not the case. Either the city is purposely evading transparency by not complying with FOIL in an effort to cover up the facts or there have been so many crimes committed by those residing in our city illegally that they need another three months to calculate the numbers. Either way it's wrong and the cover-up has to stop."