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Operation Rotten Apple ICE Arrests

News · Heat 1.0 / 10 · 2 shows · 6m airtime

Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen announced on September 1 that ICE arrested over 2,000 immigrants across New York between July 27 and August 29 in Operation Rotten Apple. Mullen said the operation proceeded without help from Mayor Zoran Mamdani or Governor Kathy Hochul, and that more federal agents are coming to New York. Reporting since has established that Mamdani called Mullen to try to get a person released back into the community, and Mullen says the Dominican national arrested in New York had three years of extensive criminal activity. What the call produced, and how the city and state are responding, remains open.

How 2 podcasts covered it

  1. Morning Wire, 2026-09-01 (3:44 to 4:50)
    Reports the five-week New York arrest sweep
    Reports the five-week arrest sweep and Mullen's claim that New York City and state officials refused to cooperate, plus his plan to send more agents.
    New angle: ICE arrested over 2,000 immigrants across New York between July 27 and August 29 in Operation Rotten Apple.
  2. The Dan Bongino Show, 2026-10-09 (11:25 to 14:13)
    Adds Mamdani's call to Mullen
    Ties the New York ICE arrests to the election, arguing the operation targeted violent criminal illegal immigrants and that Mamdani called DHS Secretary Mullen to get one released back into the community. The street protests are the backdrop; the new material is the Mamdani call.
    New angle: Mamdani called Mark Wayne Mullen to try to get a person released back into the community.
  3. The Dan Bongino Show, 2026-10-17 (9:55 to 11:55)
    Plays Mullen on the New York ICE arrest
    Plays audio of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullen describing a Dominican national arrested by ICE in New York, saying records show three years of extensive criminal activity after an illegal entry. Bongino frames Mamdani's 'rotten to the core' line as making the man a martyr.
    New angle: Mullen says the Dominican national arrested in New York had three years of extensive criminal activity.
Unpacking...