Operation Salvo
2026 American immigration enforcement operation in NYC
Operation Salvo
Part of immigration raids and arrests in the second Trump presidency
DateJanuary 8, 2026 – present (2026-01-08 – present)
LocationNew York City
Organized bySecond presidency of Donald Trump
ParticipantsImmigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, New York County District Attorney's Office, federal prosecutors[1]
ArrestsAt least 54 arrested[2]
Announced January 8, 2026

On January 8, 2026, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a New York City Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation named Operation Salvo during a press conference, one day after the killing of Renée Good. The operation's stated goal is to target the Trinitarios gang and will lead to increased ICE presence in New York City.

Background

Renee Good

On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman and US citizen, was fatally shot by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross[3] in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Good was idling in a car at the scene of an ongoing ICE operation, when Good was approached by ICE agents who gave conflicting orders. As Good attempted to exit the area, in response to one of the issued orders,[4] she passed near Ross,[5] who shot her in the head,[6][7] despite not standing in the path of the car.[8] Federal officials and President Donald Trump have defended the shooting, claiming Ross acted in self-defense and that Good attempted to run him over.[9] These claims have been widely disputed by eyewitnesses, by journalists' analysis of video footage, by local figures, and by Democratic Party lawmakers, the latter of whom have called for a criminal investigation.[10]

After the attack, Kristi Noem alleged Good "attacked them and those surrounding them and attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him."[11] Noem also called Good a domestic terrorist,[2] although when she was asked how she defined the term, she did not answer.[12]

Protests

Clockwise from top left:
January 7

Hours after Good was killed, protests ensued in New York City.[13] Protesters gathered in Foley Square, right outside the immigration court in 26 Federal Plaza, where immigrants are arrested by federal agents during their mandatory check-ins.[14] Protesters briefly left Foley Square and marched towards Federal Plaza before returning to Foley Square.[15] There was a large law enforcement presence.[15]

On the same day, newly-elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced he had "instructed city agencies, including the NYPD, to uphold New York's sanctuary city laws, and to not assist ICE agents in making arrests."[13]

January 8

Noem announced she planned to arrive in New York City on January 8, 2026 for a press conference about ICE.[13] Before her arrival, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she and Mamdani will "stand together and reject any efforts to try to militarize our streets."[16]

On the morning of January 8, a large crowd assembled protesting Noem's press conference and ICE presence in New York City.[17] Protesters once again met in Foley Square, at around 9 a.m. The protesters left Foley Square and started marching towards the One World Trade Center where Kristi Noem was in a news conference.[15] After learning Noem's press conference was scheduled to take place in the One World Trade Center, they marched from Foley Square to the OWTC.[17] Slogans in the protest included "ICE. Gestapo. Get out of New York Now" and "ICE out of New York City."[17] During the press conference, Noem announced Operation Salvo, which will lead to increased ICE presence in New York City.[18]

That night, there was another large protest, which again assembled in Foley Square.[19] The crowd had at least 500 people, according to police.[19]

About 300 people held a rally outside an ICE office in Buffalo.[20]

Announcement

During her speech, Noem claimed ICE has been carrying out Operation Salvo in NYC, which began some time after the shooting of a NYC Customs and Border Protection officer in July 2025, to whom the Trinitarios are tied according to the Trump administration. Noem claimed the operation has resulted in 54 gang-related arrests so far,[2] of which 30 arrestees were immediately deported.[21] This means the operation began in July 2025, but the operation was not publicly announced until the January press conference.[21] The arrests involved coordination between Customs and Border Protection, federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, the New York County District Attorney's Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[a][1] Noem said "we are on offense" and that "Operation Salvo is just the beginning of a broader and a much more sustained effort to go after not only transnational criminal organizations and networks, but also illegal criminal aliens throughout the country."[1]

The announcement was made with four posters of men with "arrested" written above their faces in the background. The posters said "Dominican Republic" beneath each of their mugshots and allegedly depict arrested members of the Trinitarios gang.[22]

During her speech, Noem said "your mayor just said in that statement that he is going to stand with illegal people who have broken our law before he's going to put New York City citizens first,"[21] encouraging Mamdani to work with ICE.[23]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Noem did not name ICE explicitly; she named its two law enforcement components: Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Norman-Diamond, Greg (2026-01-08). "Noem says Trump administration is 'on offense,' using 'every single tool that we have' to protect Americans". Fox News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  2. ^ a b c Moore, Jessica (January 8, 2026). "Kristi Noem touts "Operation Salvo" in New York, targeting alleged Trinitarios gang members, a day after deadly Minneapolis ICE shooting". CBS News New York. CBS News. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  3. ^ Sawyer, Liz; Mannix, Andy; Nelson, Sarah (January 8, 2026). "Star Tribune identifies ICE agent who fatally shot woman in Minneapolis". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  4. ^ "Live updates: Frey, Walz dispute that ICE killed woman in self-defense". Minnesota Public Radio. January 7, 2026. Archived from the original on January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  5. ^ Luscombe, Richard; Leingang, Rachel; Betts, Anna (January 7, 2026). "Woman in Minnesota fatally shot by ICE agent during raid, video shows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on January 7, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  6. ^ Sagrero, Gustavo; Howie, Stephen (January 7, 2025). "Seattle joins national protest following Minneapolis ICE shooting". KUOW (Seattle). Archived from the original on January 8, 2026.
  7. ^ Pizzirani, Daniela (January 8, 2025). "ICE agent fatally shoots woman amid US immigration crackdown in Minneapolis". ABC (Australia). Archived from the original on January 8, 2026.
  8. ^ Davis, Aaron (2026-01-08). "ICE agent was not in the vehicle's path when he fired at driver, video shows". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on January 8, 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  9. ^ "US immigration officer fatally shoots woman in Minneapolis". www.bbc.com. January 8, 2026. Archived from the original on January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  10. ^ Barnett, Sofia (January 6, 2026). "Mayor Jacob Frey's remarks after ICE agent fatally shot woman in Minneapolis". The Minnesota Star Tribune.
  11. ^ Cox, Joseph (January 7, 2026). "DHS Is Lying To You". 404 Media. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  12. ^ "State of the Union". CNN. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  13. ^ a b c Moore, Jessica (January 8, 2026). "Kristi Noem touts "Operation Salvo" in New York, targeting alleged Trinitarios gang members, a day after deadly Minneapolis ICE shooting". CBS News New York. CBS News. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  14. ^ Khawaja, Noorulain (January 8, 2026). "NYC immigrant rights advocates continue protests over shooting in Minnesota". Spectrum News NY1. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  15. ^ a b c "More ICE protests in New York City day after Minneapolis shooting". www.cbsnews.com. 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  16. ^ "DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defends ICE shooting during briefing in New York City". ABC7 New York. ABC, Inc. (WABC-TV). January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  17. ^ a b c Smith, Romney; The Associated Press (January 8, 2026). "'Out of New York now': Anti-ICE protesters march day after deadly Minneapolis shooting". NBC New York. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  18. ^ Norman-Diamond, Greg (2026-01-08). "Noem says Trump administration is 'on offense,' using 'every single tool that we have' to protect Americans". Fox News. Fox News Network. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  19. ^ a b Prussin, Mark; Ramos, Andrew; Williams, Doug; Ruchim, Naomi (2026-01-08). "More ICE protests in New York City day after Minneapolis shooting". CBS News New York. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  20. ^ Mroziak, Michael (2026-01-09). "Buffalo protesters denounce ICE in response to fatal shooting in Minnesota". WAMC. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  21. ^ a b c "DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defends ICE shooting during briefing in New York City". ABC7 New York. ABC, Inc. (WABC-TV). January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  22. ^ WSET ABC 13 (January 8, 2026). "LIVE: Kristi Noem holds press conference on ICE operations after agent shoots woman in Minneapolis". YouTube (Video). Google LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Miller, Joshua Rhett; Aitken, Peter (January 8, 2026). "Kristi Noem Announces ICE 'Takedown' in New York City". Newsweek. Newsweek Digital LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
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