December 5, 2024 • 10 mins
Kenneth Gelano joins the WOR Morning Show to talk about the migrant crisis in New York City. Kenneth talks about his relationship with Tom Homan and the problems with sanctuary city laws.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And the countdown is on until borders are Tom Holman
comes to town with his large posse of ICE agents
to get those who are here illegally and have criminal
records off the streets and send them back to whence
they came. And we found out this week, earlier this
(00:20):
week that that number is higher than I think anyone thought.
Fifty eight thousand illegal criminals are people that are here
illegally with either arrest or criminal records. The man who
released that information is on the phone now, Kenneth Janalo
(00:43):
is the New York City Ice Director. Thank you so much,
mister Janalo for joining us. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Hey, good morning, Larry. I appreciate you reaching out. I'm
glad to be honest.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Now, those numbers I gave and the people that we're
talking about, was I correct in saying it's fifty eight
thousand and that they all either have been arrested or
have criminal records.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That's correct. The numbers that were received through our databases
delineate fifty eight thousand plus criminal non citizens in the
New York City. Aoar. And remember, my area of responsibility
covers the City of New York, the two counties. In
(01:32):
Long Island and the seven lower counties of the Hudson
Valley region, so it would encompass all of that area
where these individuals are located.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Have you been in communication with the incoming borders? Are
Tom Homan?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Unfortunately, until the transition team is in place and the
MoU is signed, we don't have any communication with the
new administration. So we're waiting for that and anticipate that
to happen soon. So you know, like I said, I'm
just waiting on that to happen.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Have you talked with him in the past. Do you
know him.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I've worked for mister Holman in the past when he
was the prior Ice director. He's a great leader, He's
a genuine man, and he knows how to get the
work done.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
So you expect that he is going to be a
man of his word. He keeps saying whether you want
us there or not, we're coming, and that don't try
to stop us, or don't cross a certain line because
you're going to be arrested for a felony for harboring
an illegal immigrant that we're supposed to be arresting and
taking back home. You take him at his word when
(02:43):
he says.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
That he's a transparent person. In no smoke and mirrors
with mister Holman. So you know when he says that
he's talking about sanctuary policies, and obviously the sanctuary policies
in New York City that have been enacted a while
ago and then strengthen under the former administration with the
(03:04):
may of de Blasio where it took it further. And basically,
we had a unit that was located at Rikers Island
and when the individuals were done with their local time
or if they were being released on bail roar, we
were able to vet and determine if they were amenable
to removal proceedings and take them into custody right from
(03:24):
Rikers Island. So you know, during that heyday about ten
years ago, we were taking into custody close to one
hundred individuals a month. So if we're no longer located
at Rikers Island, obviously those individuals are just being released
right back into the community. And you know, the recidivism
rate is extremely high with these individuals, and on top
(03:46):
of it, the majority of the victims that they take
advantage of are actually the migrant community and migrant females
and migrant children. So when you hear these politicians state
that it keeps their community safe, the sanctuary policies, I
don't know how their constituents can believe that when they
(04:08):
are releasing these heinous individuals right back into the community
instead of turning them over to my staff to place
them in removal proceedings in a detained setting.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Do you have statistics and or do you have numbers
or information on the number of, for instance, Trend de
Arragua or cartels or other gangs that are in the
New York City area.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
No, we don't have any concrete statistics, but obviously there
has been an increase in gang activity, not only in
New York City but across the country, and the recent
influx of the Trend the Aragua gang has caught the
attention of all law enforcement. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
I know that the NYPD is not supposed to be
even talking about immigration status or even getting that information.
And I was a little bit surprised when they came
out to a couple of months ago and said that
seventy five percent of the crimes in Midtown are caused
by those who are here illegally. And I was trying
(05:11):
to figure out how they even know that information, but
it did. It did show that the NYPD is fed
up with this as well. Do you get that feeling?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Well, look, I don't understand how anyone would want to
have an individual that's a violent or heinous individual released
back into their community to live side by side with
them when they can be you know, taken into custody
in a secure setting by my agency, placed and removal
(05:43):
proceedings and you know, have their airing in front of
a judge. Everyone has the right to do process, has
the right to obtain counsel. You know, the notion of
us grabbing people and just driving to JFK putting them
on a plane is absolutely far from the truth. And
you know, the other notion that we do these sweeps
and we do these raids is another false narrative that's
(06:04):
been pushed. We do targeted enforcement, which basically means an
officer will investigate a certain individual, we will get legal
sufficiency from a legal department on that individual, and then
a supervisor will sign off on the case. Then we
go out and we seek to arrest that one individual.
We do not do sweeps. We don't go into schools,
(06:27):
we don't go into churches. We don't go into hospitals.
So the fear mongoring that you hear that's out there.
It's unfortunate, but it's a narrative that's trying to be pushed.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And there is something else that I've heard other interviews
with you, and there's something else you said that I
thought was really important for our listeners to hear. It
is the root of sanctuary cities. The argument for it
early on was that ICE would would not be able
to get information the NYPD wouldn't be able to information
(07:00):
about crimes from those who are here illegally and living
their lives and not committing crimes, because there was fear
that they would be sent back. And you said that straight.
Please say what you said about that.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Sure, ICE ero uses a victim senate approach when it's targeting,
it's the individuals for arrest. So those that are victims
of crimes are those that are witnesses to crimes. We
do not seek to arrest. We work with our law
enforcement partners, We work with the District Attorney's office to
(07:35):
ensure that those people are not arrested or targeted for arrest. So, yes,
that was the original reason why sanctuary police policies had
been established way back during the Kach administration. But like
I said, our agency does not go after victims, or
we don't go after those that are are witnesses to crimes.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
We're talking to Kenneth Ganalo, who is the director in
New York City. So are you There have been reports
that in the ICE Department and with ICE officers across
the country and with the Border Patrol, that morale has
been down over the last few years, and that people
(08:19):
are actually coming back out of retirement or putting off
their retirement because Tom Holman is taking over his borders.
Are is there a renewed excitement in ICE because he's
now taking over.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I mean, I can't speak for all of these other people,
and you know, I don't want to speculate what's going
to occur in the new administration. But what I do anticipate,
since I've worked for mister Holman before, is that I
know that he will fight for additional funding that's sorely
needed for the agency because during the less administration, our
(08:57):
budget has been cut by Congress. So when we're about
going out and we are arresting all these individuals, not
only here in New York City, but nationwide we need
additional bedspace. So in order to have additional bedspace to
detain these individuals, we need additional funding. And on top
of that, my staff during this current administration was operating
(09:20):
down thirty percent and my officer call because of budget cuts.
So basically I have a staff that we had to
address the large reporting from the southwest border at our office,
so I had to move staff to address that. But
in the interim, I ensure that my staff is out
every day making these arrests. And you know, you hear
(09:42):
people saying, well, why haven't the arrest been occurring before,
and they have. The thing is the media doesn't report it.
And basically, last fiscal year, my staff, even though we've
been operating shorthanded, arrested close to one thousand individuals in
this aor here that all had committed some serious crimes.
(10:02):
And if you look at the mat that I explained about,
we're no longer at rikers or there's no cooperation and
they're releasing individuals back into the community. If we were
doing one hundred a month, obviously it's about one thousand
to twelve hundred a year. If we're arresting a thousand.
You see, the dent that we're making is not that
large in the amount of criminal non citizens that are
(10:25):
located in our communities right.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Now, and sir, with that, we do have to leave.
I would love to talk to you again. You obviously,
I think you can tell from the question and you
have our support and I wish you luck. Sir Kenneth Genalo,
New York City ICE Director, Thanks.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Again, I appreciate it. I have a great day you too.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Maybe they'll write a song about it. And a rock
band gets robbed at gunpoint outside Starbucks, we'll tell you
what the band did and what the details are. Also
your talkbacks next
And the countdown is on until borders are Tom Holman
comes to town with his large posse of ICE agents
to get those who are here illegally and have criminal
records off the streets and send them back to whence
they came. And we found out this week, earlier this
(00:20):
week that that number is higher than I think anyone thought.
Fifty eight thousand illegal criminals are people that are here
illegally with either arrest or criminal records. The man who
released that information is on the phone now, Kenneth Janalo
(00:43):
is the New York City Ice Director. Thank you so much,
mister Janalo for joining us. I really appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Hey, good morning, Larry. I appreciate you reaching out. I'm
glad to be honest.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Now, those numbers I gave and the people that we're
talking about, was I correct in saying it's fifty eight
thousand and that they all either have been arrested or
have criminal records.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That's correct. The numbers that were received through our databases
delineate fifty eight thousand plus criminal non citizens in the
New York City. Aoar. And remember, my area of responsibility
covers the City of New York, the two counties. In
(01:32):
Long Island and the seven lower counties of the Hudson
Valley region, so it would encompass all of that area
where these individuals are located.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Have you been in communication with the incoming borders? Are
Tom Homan?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Unfortunately, until the transition team is in place and the
MoU is signed, we don't have any communication with the
new administration. So we're waiting for that and anticipate that
to happen soon. So you know, like I said, I'm
just waiting on that to happen.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Have you talked with him in the past. Do you
know him.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I've worked for mister Holman in the past when he
was the prior Ice director. He's a great leader, He's
a genuine man, and he knows how to get the
work done.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
So you expect that he is going to be a
man of his word. He keeps saying whether you want
us there or not, we're coming, and that don't try
to stop us, or don't cross a certain line because
you're going to be arrested for a felony for harboring
an illegal immigrant that we're supposed to be arresting and
taking back home. You take him at his word when
(02:43):
he says.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
That he's a transparent person. In no smoke and mirrors
with mister Holman. So you know when he says that
he's talking about sanctuary policies, and obviously the sanctuary policies
in New York City that have been enacted a while
ago and then strengthen under the former administration with the
(03:04):
may of de Blasio where it took it further. And basically,
we had a unit that was located at Rikers Island
and when the individuals were done with their local time
or if they were being released on bail roar, we
were able to vet and determine if they were amenable
to removal proceedings and take them into custody right from
(03:24):
Rikers Island. So you know, during that heyday about ten
years ago, we were taking into custody close to one
hundred individuals a month. So if we're no longer located
at Rikers Island, obviously those individuals are just being released
right back into the community. And you know, the recidivism
rate is extremely high with these individuals, and on top
(03:46):
of it, the majority of the victims that they take
advantage of are actually the migrant community and migrant females
and migrant children. So when you hear these politicians state
that it keeps their community safe, the sanctuary policies, I
don't know how their constituents can believe that when they
(04:08):
are releasing these heinous individuals right back into the community
instead of turning them over to my staff to place
them in removal proceedings in a detained setting.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Do you have statistics and or do you have numbers
or information on the number of, for instance, Trend de
Arragua or cartels or other gangs that are in the
New York City area.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
No, we don't have any concrete statistics, but obviously there
has been an increase in gang activity, not only in
New York City but across the country, and the recent
influx of the Trend the Aragua gang has caught the
attention of all law enforcement. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
I know that the NYPD is not supposed to be
even talking about immigration status or even getting that information.
And I was a little bit surprised when they came
out to a couple of months ago and said that
seventy five percent of the crimes in Midtown are caused
by those who are here illegally. And I was trying
(05:11):
to figure out how they even know that information, but
it did. It did show that the NYPD is fed
up with this as well. Do you get that feeling?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Well, look, I don't understand how anyone would want to
have an individual that's a violent or heinous individual released
back into their community to live side by side with
them when they can be you know, taken into custody
in a secure setting by my agency, placed and removal
(05:43):
proceedings and you know, have their airing in front of
a judge. Everyone has the right to do process, has
the right to obtain counsel. You know, the notion of
us grabbing people and just driving to JFK putting them
on a plane is absolutely far from the truth. And
you know, the other notion that we do these sweeps
and we do these raids is another false narrative that's
(06:04):
been pushed. We do targeted enforcement, which basically means an
officer will investigate a certain individual, we will get legal
sufficiency from a legal department on that individual, and then
a supervisor will sign off on the case. Then we
go out and we seek to arrest that one individual.
We do not do sweeps. We don't go into schools,
(06:27):
we don't go into churches. We don't go into hospitals.
So the fear mongoring that you hear that's out there.
It's unfortunate, but it's a narrative that's trying to be pushed.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And there is something else that I've heard other interviews
with you, and there's something else you said that I
thought was really important for our listeners to hear. It
is the root of sanctuary cities. The argument for it
early on was that ICE would would not be able
to get information the NYPD wouldn't be able to information
(07:00):
about crimes from those who are here illegally and living
their lives and not committing crimes, because there was fear
that they would be sent back. And you said that straight.
Please say what you said about that.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Sure, ICE ero uses a victim senate approach when it's targeting,
it's the individuals for arrest. So those that are victims
of crimes are those that are witnesses to crimes. We
do not seek to arrest. We work with our law
enforcement partners, We work with the District Attorney's office to
(07:35):
ensure that those people are not arrested or targeted for arrest. So, yes,
that was the original reason why sanctuary police policies had
been established way back during the Kach administration. But like
I said, our agency does not go after victims, or
we don't go after those that are are witnesses to crimes.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
We're talking to Kenneth Ganalo, who is the director in
New York City. So are you There have been reports
that in the ICE Department and with ICE officers across
the country and with the Border Patrol, that morale has
been down over the last few years, and that people
(08:19):
are actually coming back out of retirement or putting off
their retirement because Tom Holman is taking over his borders.
Are is there a renewed excitement in ICE because he's
now taking over.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I mean, I can't speak for all of these other people,
and you know, I don't want to speculate what's going
to occur in the new administration. But what I do anticipate,
since I've worked for mister Holman before, is that I
know that he will fight for additional funding that's sorely
needed for the agency because during the less administration, our
(08:57):
budget has been cut by Congress. So when we're about
going out and we are arresting all these individuals, not
only here in New York City, but nationwide we need
additional bedspace. So in order to have additional bedspace to
detain these individuals, we need additional funding. And on top
of that, my staff during this current administration was operating
(09:20):
down thirty percent and my officer call because of budget cuts.
So basically I have a staff that we had to
address the large reporting from the southwest border at our office,
so I had to move staff to address that. But
in the interim, I ensure that my staff is out
every day making these arrests. And you know, you hear
(09:42):
people saying, well, why haven't the arrest been occurring before,
and they have. The thing is the media doesn't report it.
And basically, last fiscal year, my staff, even though we've
been operating shorthanded, arrested close to one thousand individuals in
this aor here that all had committed some serious crimes.
(10:02):
And if you look at the mat that I explained about,
we're no longer at rikers or there's no cooperation and
they're releasing individuals back into the community. If we were
doing one hundred a month, obviously it's about one thousand
to twelve hundred a year. If we're arresting a thousand.
You see, the dent that we're making is not that
large in the amount of criminal non citizens that are
(10:25):
located in our communities right.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Now, and sir, with that, we do have to leave.
I would love to talk to you again. You obviously,
I think you can tell from the question and you
have our support and I wish you luck. Sir Kenneth Genalo,
New York City ICE Director, Thanks.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Again, I appreciate it. I have a great day you too.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Maybe they'll write a song about it. And a rock
band gets robbed at gunpoint outside Starbucks, we'll tell you
what the band did and what the details are. Also
your talkbacks next
Popular Podcasts
Monster: BTK
'Monster: BTK', the newest installment in the 'Monster' franchise, reveals the true story of the Wichita, Kansas serial killer who murdered at least 10 people between 1974 and 1991. Known by the moniker, BTK – Bind Torture Kill, his notoriety was bolstered by the taunting letters he sent to police, and the chilling phone calls he made to media outlets. BTK's identity was finally revealed in 2005 to the shock of his family, his community, and the world. He was the serial killer next door. From Tenderfoot TV & iHeartPodcasts, this is 'Monster: BTK'.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.