Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in New York City on Thursday, a day after a U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agent shot and killed 37-year-old mother of three Renee Good in Minneapolis. 

Noem's visit to the city was planned before the incident in Minneapolis, but what happened there raised the stakes for her message.

She focused her remarks on ICE enforcement in New York City. 

"A significant blow to the criminal network" 

Noem was flanked by photos of accused criminals arrested by immigration agents, and touted previous ICE enforcement in New York City as a huge success. She lauded Operation Salvo, which she said targeted members of the Trinitarios gang and led to 54 arrests across the city since this past summer. That includes the men accused of attacking a Customs and Border Patrol officer in Manhattan six months ago. 

"Those arrested are violent transnational gang members and affiliates associated with Trinitarios, who are responsible for weapons trafficking, for human smuggling, for narcotics distribution, and for armed robberies," Noem said. "Over 60% of them have been returned back to their home countries to face justice for their crimes there as well. These arrests and these removals represent a significant blow to the criminal network that has been terrorizing communities."

DHS said many of the 54 people arrested have criminal records which include weapons and drug offenses, robbery, assault and sexual abuse.

"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," Noem said.

DHS said 30 of the 54 people arrested in the takedown have since been deported, while the rest remain in ICE custody. CBS News New York has asked DHS repeatedly for their names and prior offenses, but it has yet to provide that information.

Homeland Security data shows immigration arrests have slowed after peaking after the summer, but deportations have increased.  

Noem criticizes Mamdani's position of sanctuary city policies

Noem blasted sanctuary city policies which she said allowed the alleged gang members to live in New York City undetected.

"Sanctuary policies, whether they're here in New York City, or California, or Illinois, or Minneapolis, if you are a criminal illegal alien, we are coming to get you. We'll arrest you. We will bring justice, and we will also bring safety, to the American people," Noem said. 

"We are here today because of the abject failure of the New York City bail reform laws and sanctuary city policies," said Kenneth Genalo, New York City director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE.  

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he has instructed city agencies, including the NYPD, to uphold New York's sanctuary city laws, and not to assist ICE agents in making arrests.

"I have made it clear to everyone within my city government, and that extends to NYPD, that we are going to uphold our sanctuary city policies," he said Wednesday.

"Your mayor just said in that statement that he was going to stand with illegal people who have broken our law before he's going to put New York City citizens first," Noem said.

NYCLU responds

The New York Civil Liberties Union didn't mince words in its response to Noem.

"This is a pathetic attempt to deflect attention from the horrific behavior of ICE yesterday in Minneapolis," NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said.

On Wednesday, Noem called Good a domestic terrorist, accusing her of trying to run over ICE agents with her SUV. The dramatic footage sparked protests and rallies across New York City, with additional demonstrations taking place Thursday. 

Lieberman also defended New York sanctuary laws, which prohibit city workers and resources from being used for civil immigration enforcement, with exceptions for violent criminals.

"If people don't trust the police not be grabbing them off the street and throwing them into immigration detention and shipping them off to CECOT, then people will not report crimes," she said.

In a statement, the NYCLU added: 

"To Kristi Noem and your ICE goons: Your agency is dangerous, cruel, inept, and lawless, and has no place on our streets. Nothing makes that clearer than the blood you shed in Minneapolis yesterday. Contrary to your spin, the facts are that New York's longstanding, bipartisan sanctuary laws have made our city safer, fueled our economy, strengthened our communities, and made it easier for people to access vital services that support public safety. It's also that fact that bail reform has advanced justice for thousands of New Yorkers without raising crime levels, which are at historic lows. It is ICE that is daily undermining public safety."