Overview
- Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI will co-lead the task force with participation from the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and a wide array of federal, state, and local agencies.
- Officials highlighted active searches for two alleged leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel following its terror-related designation earlier this year.
- Leaders said the unified structure will streamline intelligence and prosecutions across agencies and formalizes coordination already underway in recent joint operations.
- HSI stressed that the initiative is distinct from immigration arrest operations, though agents said federal immigration laws will be enforced if violations surface during criminal investigations.
- The launch follows President Trump’s October announcement of a national HSTF rollout and has prompted questions about how the federal effort will interact with New York City’s immigrant-protection stance under mayor-elect Jummaane Mamdani.