ICE’s August Arrests Break Record for Number of Illegal Aliens Arrested

 

This is the third straight month in which ICE set a new record for arrests 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement announcing that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 51,000 illegal aliens in August 2026, surpassing July’s total for the new record of highest number of illegal aliens arrested in a single month. 

In August, ICE arrested 50,925 illegal aliens across the country. This surpasses the previous record held by July 2026, which saw 50,208 illegal aliens arrested, and marks the second consecutive month with over 50,000 illegal alien arrests. July surpassed June, which saw 43,900 number of illegal aliens arrested.  

“The hard-working men and women of DHS continue to break records as they defend the homeland and protect the American people,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “For the third straight month, ICE set a new record for the highest number of illegal aliens arrested in a single month, nearly 51,000. This is promises made and promises kept in action. Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE is working around the clock every day to arrest and deport illegal aliens from American communities. If you are in the country illegally, LEAVE NOW. If not, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you.” 

Since President Trump returned to office, more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the United States. 

Being in detention is a choice. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now with the CBP Home App. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return. 

WORST OF THE WORST: In the month of August, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested criminal illegal aliens across the country, including those convicted for heinous crimes such as DUI manslaughter, child pornography, murder, sexual assault of a minor, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. 

FORMER NYPD OFFICER INDICTED ON CONSPIRACY, ASSAULT AND OTHER CHARGES FOR HIT-AND-RUN COLLISION WITH PEDESTRIAN IN SOUTH OZONE PARK

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jatinderpal Singh was indicted on conspiracy, assault, tampering with physical evidence and other charges for a March 2026 hit-and-run collision that nearly killed a 22-year-old woman who was crossing the street. The defendant, an off-duty NYPD officer at the time, allegedly fled the scene without rendering aid to the victim and then attempted to cover it up by ordering his friends, who were passengers in the car, to lie to the police.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this defendant was sworn to uphold the law and instead showed complete disregard for the rules of the road as he sped through the streets of Queens and struck a pedestrian. He then fled the scene, failed to help the victim and attempted to cover up his alleged actions. There are serious consequences for endangering the lives of pedestrians and my office wishes the victim the very best as she continues to recover from this traumatic incident.”

Singh, 26, of Valley Stream, was arraigned today on a 14-count indictment charging him with assault in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, conspiracy in the fifth degree, official misconduct, obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, reckless driving, operating a vehicle at unreasonable speed, driving in excess of the maximum speed limit, failing to stop at a steady red signal, failure to exercise due care and failing to stop at a sign. Supreme Court Justice Peter Vallone ordered the defendant to return to court on September 24. If convicted, Singh faces up to seven years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on March 14, 2026, at approximately 2:03 a.m., Singh, was driving a friend’s black Cadillac Escalade at a high rate of speed in the vicinity of Rockaway Boulevard and 122nd Place in South Ozone Park when he struck a 22-year-old woman, as she crossed the street.

Singh fled the scene without rendering aid to the woman.

The following day, Singh directed one of the passengers in the car at the time of the collision to have the car repaired in Centereach, Long Island. Photos taken at the repair shop, and later obtained from the vehicle’s owner, show damage to the front body and the front headlight of the vehicle.

Singh never reported the incident to his command or to any other NYPD official, which is standard protocol, but instead instructed a passenger at the time of the incident to delete any photos and videos from his phone showing the defendant driving the vehicle on March 14. Additionally, Singh instructed the passengers to lie to the police and to refuse to cooperate with the investigation.

The victim, who was unconscious after the incident, was rushed to a local hospital. She suffered severe trauma to her head and torso, her spleen was removed and metal rods were placed in her legs.

Singh resigned from the NYPD in May.

Detective Kevin Livingston of the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad investigated the case under the supervision of Sergeant Robert Dennig and Lieutenant Zebulon Taylor, under the overall supervision of Inspector Connor Winne.

Trinidadian Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking in New York

 

Trinidadian foreign national and lawful permanent resident, Chad Barclay, 33, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking and admitted to kidnapping six additional victims.

During the plea hearing, Barclay admitted that on Sept. 13, 2022, he enticed the victim to his residence to engage in commercial sex, where he robbed and sexually assaulted her. As part of plea agreement, Barclay stipulated to kidnapping six additional women between 2022 and 2023. For targeting five victims, Barclay was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment with interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnapping, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding in August 2023. Barclay was charged with a sex trafficking count for one of the original five victims and interstate prostitution, Hobbs Act robbery, kidnaping, and other related charges for two additional victims in a second superseding indictment in May 2026.

“Chad Barclay has now admitted that he kidnapped, violently raped, and robbed multiple female victims,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This prosecution demonstrates that we will always seek justice for survivors of trafficking and abuse to prevent more of these heinous crimes. This type of exploitation and violence has no place in our civilized society.” 

“This defendant is a dangerous predator who used force and intimidation to sexually assault a victim and has admitted to additional conduct including kidnapping six other women,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s guilty plea holds him accountable for the devastating harm he inflicted on his victims and sends a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who use violence, enticement, and coercion to facilitate sex trafficking. We remain committed to protecting victims of this scourge, pursuing justice on their behalf, and ensuring that perpetrators like Barclay are held responsible for their crimes.” 

“Chad Barclay’s brutal and predatory actions inflicted profound harm on his victims and demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety and humanity,” said Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “The FBI and NYPD's joint investigation ensured his conduct was exposed and he was brought before the justice system to answer for his crimes. We will continue working closely with our partners to protect victims and ensure offenders are held fully accountable for their actions.”

Barclay faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI New York Field Office and the New York Police Department are investigating the case as part of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Attorney General James Joins 20 Other Attorneys Generals and the Governor of Pennsylvania in to Protect Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth

 

New Trump Administration Rule Blocks Federal Medicaid and CHIP Funding for Medically Necessary Care

New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined 20 other attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania in suing the Trump administration over a new rule that blocks states from receiving federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for gender-affirming care provided to transgender adolescents. The rule, issued last month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), prohibits Medicaid reimbursement for medically necessary health care when used to treat gender dysphoria in patients under 18, and imposes similar restrictions on CHIP coverage for patients under 19. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that CMS exceeded its authority by imposing a nationwide prohibition on federal reimbursement for health care that states have chosen to cover.

“The federal government does not have the authority to dictate what medically necessary care New York provides to its residents,” said Attorney General James. “This unlawful rule threatens access to health care for transgender young people and undermines states’ ability to administer our own Medicaid programs. New York will continue to stand up for patients and defend our authority to provide the care they need.”

States have long received federal reimbursement for care for transgender adolescents. In early August, however, CMS published a new final rule unilaterally prohibiting states from using federal reimbursement for puberty-delaying medications, hormone therapies, and surgical procedures when used to treat gender dysphoria. The same treatments remain covered when provided for other purposes, such as treating endocrine disorders or precocious puberty. As the coalition notes in the lawsuit, more than 90 percent of the comments submitted to CMS opposed the rule, including comments from Attorney General James and numerous leading medical organizations.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue this unjustifiable rule will cause serious harm, especially to transgender youth and young adults. Research overwhelmingly shows that access to gender-affirming care reduces depression, anxiety, and suicidality in transgender youth. The Trevor Project found that suicide attempts increased among transgender youth as much as 72 percent in the first year after state-level restrictions on gender-affirming care were imposed.

In New York, discrimination in health care based on gender identity and other protected characteristics is illegal. Just 3.13 percent of New York adolescents identify as transgender, according to the Williams Institute – approximately 37,000 individuals. Only a fraction of those receive gender-affirming care, and fewer still seek Medicaid or CHIP reimbursement for this care. The states argue that this rule targets some of their most vulnerable residents and seeks to create illegal barriers to care for low-income patients who cannot afford alternative coverage. The attorneys general also assert that the rule will impose significant new costs and administrative burdens on state Medicaid programs, and states that want to continue covering the care could be forced to assume burdensome costs previously reimbursed by the federal government.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that Congress never gave CMS the authority to unilaterally refuse to reimburse evidence-based healthcare that states lawfully chose to provide and protect. They challenge the process CMS used to justify the rule, including its reliance on an HHS report that the states argue was developed in violation of federal transparency requirements and fails to adequately account for the medical evidence submitted during the rulemaking process. They are asking the court to declare the final rule unlawful and strike down enforcement in their states.

Attorney General James  joins in this lawsuit with the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, along with the governor of Pennsylvania.

Governor Hochul Urges Caution Ahead of Increased Risk for Severe Thunderstorms Later This Afternoon

Enhanced Risk for Severe Thunderstorms for Parts of Western New York, Finger Lake and Central New York

Rainfall Totals of More than Two Inches are Possible with Potential for Localized Totals of Four Inches; Rainfall Rates of More than One and A Half Inches an Hour Are Likely

Flood Watch Issued for Parts of Central New York, Southern Tier, Finger Lakes and Mohawk Valley

Wind Gusts of More than 60 MPH and Hail Over One Inch Possible; Isolated Tornadoes Cannot Be Ruled Out

New Yorkers Encouraged to Sign Up for Weather and Emergency Alerts by Texting 333111

Governor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers to use caution as the risk for strong to severe thunderstorms moving into parts of Western and Central New York and the Finger Lakes has increased for later this afternoon into tomorrow morning. Rainfall rates of more than one and a half inches per hour are likely with peak rainfall totals of more than two inches possible, with the potential for localized rainfall totals of more than four inches. Wind gusts over 60 miles per hour are possible and hail measuring over an inch could fall in areas across the state. Isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out as a possibility with this system. A Flood Watch will go into effect for areas across Central New York, the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes and Mohawk Valley beginning 4 p.m. today and continuing into Wednesday morning.

“It’s the season for quick changes in weather for New York and it’s important to be prepared with the increased risk for severe storms that are impacting New York this evening,” Governor Hochul said. “I urge all New Yorkers to exercise caution by staying weather aware and monitoring your local forecast for rapidly changing conditions.”

The Governor directed State agencies to monitor the impact of these storms and stand ready to respond and assist. The State's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with their local counterparts and is prepared to facilitate any local requests for assistance. State stockpiles are ready to deploy emergency response assets and supplies as needed. The State Watch Center, New York’s 24/7 alert and warning hub, is monitoring the storm track and statewide impacts closely.

New Yorkers should ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones. They should also sign up for real-time weather and emergency alerts that will be texted to their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111.

Residents are encouraged to monitor their local forecasts, weather watches and warnings. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website.

Thunderstorm Safety Tips

Thunderstorms are dangerous storms that can produce 50+ mph winds, lightning, hail and cause flash flooding and tornadoes. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to a safe shelter immediately.

Move to a sturdy building. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles. If lightning occurs and sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep windows up. Get out of boats and away from water.

Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Do not take a bath or shower. Turn off air conditioners — power surges from lightning can overload compressors.

Get to higher ground if flash flooding or flooding is possible. Do not attempt to drive to safety — most flash flooding deaths occur in automobiles. If outdoors, find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles. If you are in the woods, take shelter under short trees. If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stands on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet; place your hands on your knees with your head between them; make yourself the smallest target possible; and minimize your contact with the ground.

Tornado Safety Tips

If outdoors: Seek shelter in a substantial building immediately. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately. If at home or in a small building: Go to the basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of the building. Stay away from windows. Closets, bathrooms, and other interior rooms offer the best protection. Get under something sturdy or cover yourself with a mattress. If in a school, hospital, or shopping center: Go to a pre-designated shelter area. Stay away from large open areas and windows. Do not go outside to your car.

If in a high-rise building: Go to an interior small room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Do not use the elevators. Use the stairs.

If in a mobile home or vehicle: Get out of mobile homes or vehicles - they are easily tossed about by strong winds in the tornado.

Take shelter in a substantial structure: If there is no shelter near-by, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head.

Tips to stay safe when there is the potential for flash flooding:

Before and During the Storm

Stay Informed: Monitor your local weather forecast and follow any warnings that may be broadcast. Follow Instructions from Local Officials: If you are advised by emergency officials to take immediate action such as evacuation, do not wait — follow all orders promptly. Do Not Walk, Swim or Drive Through Floodwaters: One foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away. If you have doubts, remember: “Turn Around, Don't Drown!”

Know your evacuation route and how to get to higher ground.

Know your area's type of flood risk — visit FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.

Have a flood emergency plan in place that includes considerations for your children, pets and neighbors. Have an emergency go bag ready to grab for you, your family and your pets that includes any medications you may need.

Check in with elderly neighbors or those who may have mobility issues.

Do not touch downed power lines. Keep your phone charged.

Keep a small disaster supply kit in the trunk of your car. After Flood Waters Have Receded

Wait until an area has been declared safe before entering. Be careful driving, since roads may be damaged and power lines may be down. If your home or apartment has been flooded, DO NOT turn on electrical appliances until an electrician has checked the system and appliances. Throw out any medicine or food that may have had contact with flood waters. Keep your automobile fueled. If electric power is cut off, gasoline stations may not be able to pump fuel for several days. Do not touch downed power lines.

For more preparedness information and safety tips from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, visit dhses.ny.gov.

The National Weather Service website also includes Flood Safety Tips.

NYGOP Submits FOIL Request Seeking Email at Center of AG James Whistleblower Scandal

The NYGOP today submitted a FOIL request to the office of the New York State Attorney General seeking a copy of the email at the center of AG Letitia James' whistleblower scandal. According to the whistleblower in her office, James directed her staff to dig up dirt on President Trump and his affiliates in an email that was later recalled and deleted.

 

James' deletion of the email is out of line with public records regulations and likely a violation of law.

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement:

 

“Letitia James is more focused on her petty political vendettas than on fighting crime, which is why crime is up 26% on her watch.

 

"Her demented obsession with President Trump is a waste of taxpayer money while every day there is a new subway pushing, Times Square stabbing, or repeat offender committing a crime in all 62 counties.

 

"New Yorkers are sick of political games and deserve an Attorney General who will just fight crime, which is why Saritha Komatireddy will win in November."

 

A copy of the FOIL request is available here. 

Mayor Mamdani and Chancellor Samuels Put Students First with Nation’s Broadest Generative AI Moratorium in Schools

 

Representing the most expansive student-facing AI policy in the country, the Mamdani administration prioritizes student safety and real, human instruction  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels today announced a moratorium on student-facing generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in schools, alongside a new screen time policy, a decision that will impact nearly 600,000 public school students, or two-thirds of the system’s total enrollment. The policy establishes a one-year moratorium, effective in the 2026-2027 school year, on student-facing generative AI for children in 2-K through 8th grade. It also introduces twice-yearly AI critical thinking modules for high schoolers, limited AI pilots for a small number of high school classrooms and age-appropriate screen time restrictions.  

  

“Children need teachers and human connection in order to learn and grow. They need to develop skills alongside their peers, build relationships with educators and wrestle with tough problems on their own,” said Mayor Mamdani. “The tech industry wants us to believe that A.I.-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary. We do not see it that way. That’s why we’re implementing a moratorium on generative AI for students in 2-K through 8th grade and spending the next year studying the impacts of this technology.”

 

“We have a responsibility to ensure that rapidly-changing technology supports our children and their learning, rather than getting in the way of it,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “New York State has been leading the way in our efforts to keep kids focused on learning and growing — not clicking and scrolling — and I commend Mayor Mamdani for building on this work and pushing our shared commitment to supporting New York’s kids forward.”    

  

“As Chancellor and as a parent, I believe our job is to protect what makes learning work, while ensuring every child has the critical thinking skills they need before graduating,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “We’re putting guardrails in place to protect the human connection, curiosity and creativity that help children grow. We’re standing firmly in our belief that innovation does not mean more technology, and over the next year, we will lead with evidence to make sure technology serves learning — not the other way around.”   

  

Representing the most expansive student-facing AI moratorium in the nation, the new policy eliminates AI use for students in grades 2-K through 8th grade. This includes all software that uses student-facing generative AI. Companion chatbots will be prohibited across all grades.   

  

Throughout the 2026-27 school year, a new Technology in Schools Coalition, made up of students, educators, parent leaders, elected officials, advocates, union partners and experts in the field will convene to assess the impact of the moratorium and limited pilots. The coalition will publish a report with recommendations for future school years.    

  

For a maximum of 50,000 high school students in general education classes, or approximately 5% of the public-school student body, five limited AI pilots will be introduced. All high school students will also have access to twice-yearly AI literacy classes designed to help them think critically about AI before they begin to rely on it.   

  

The two 45-minute modules will introduce students to what AI is and is not, as well as AI-related bias, risks, ethical considerations and impacts on careers and future skills.   

  

The limited pilots will be offered at a maximum of five classes per high school. All use will take place under the direct supervision of a trained educator and will involve carefully vetted AI tools. The pilots were selected based on rigorous safety and data privacy standards, their focus on teacher-guided instruction and their commitment to keeping students as the primary thinker in the classroom.   

  

Pilot programs include:  

  

•    Quill: Accessed by English language arts classrooms, Quill is designed to support close reading, text analysis and the use of evidence to support claims. Students will use Quill for no more than 15 minutes per week.   

•    Edia: Accessed by math classrooms, Edia is designed to provide step-by-step coaching and prompt students to explain their reasoning. Students will use Edia for no more than 20 minutes per week.  

•    Brisk Teaching: Accessed through teacher-created activities, Brisk Teaching is designed to provide guided practice using teacher-selected texts or videos, with objectives and guardrails set by the teacher. Students will use Brisk Boost for 10 to 20 minutes once or twice per week.  

•    Playlab: To be used across multiple subjects, Playlab is designed to help students engage with assignment-specific applications and examine AI outputs for bias and reasoning. No more than two assignments per marking period will use Playlab.  

•    Intel AI-Ready Schools: To be used across multiple subjects, Intel AI-Ready Schools is designed to help students identify community problems and develop AI solutions through semester-long projects. Students will use the tool for one period per week.  

  

Teachers will continue to be permitted to use AI for instructional planning and operational tasks, provided all tools comply with NYCPS safety standards. Exceptions to the policy will be granted for assistive technology usage by students with disabilities, multilingual learners and students participating in career readiness programs, like computer science.   

  

With this new policy, students in 2nd grade and below will see restricted 1:1 screen time, with recommended caps of 30 minutes a day for students in 3rd grade through 5th grade and 45 minutes for students in 6th grade through 8th grade.   

  

Under the new policy, all technology tools used in NYCPS will undergo an exhaustive review and will be barred if their functionality is ultimately determined not to be mission-critical to learning. The review will include vendor accountability for safety and transparency standards, ethics, evidence of learning design and instructional impact, prior research and the continuous collection of user feedback.  

  

Housing Lottery Launches for 1718 Crotona Park East in Crotona Park East, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 1718 Crotona Park East, a nine-story mixed-use building in Crotona Park East, The Bronx. Designed by Leandro Nils Dickson Architect, LLC and developed by Yonah Grunhut of Grun Group LLC, the structure yields 73 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 15 units for residents at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $75,703 to $168,320.

Amenities include pet-friendly policies, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, elevator, and recreation room. Tenants are responsible for electricity with stove and heat.

1718 Crotona Park East in Crotona Park East, The Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

At 80 percent of the AMI, there are ten studios with a monthly rent of $2,040 for incomes ranging from $75,703 to $108,560; one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,173 for incomes ranging from $81,086 to $122,160; two two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,583 for incomes ranging from $97,406 to $146,560; and two three-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,962 for incomes ranging from $112,698 to $168,320.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than September 22, 2026.