Part 3/7:
The rise in violent crime, including shoplifting, robbery, and assaults—especially in subway systems—has become a critical issue. Activists often cite systemic issues leading to crime rather than focusing solely on individual actions. For them, the stance against ICE is more about ensuring a just society than dealing with the real fears resting in residents’ neighborhoods.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Cass Doy highlighted that local communities are increasingly feeling unsafe, prompting police to intensify operations against gang activity. The city's soaring crime rates have created a complex dynamic: the law-abiding residents feel pressured and terrified while the criminals exploit the sanctuary city laws, leading to a perception that crimes carry little to no consequences.