Technically, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's press office is correct in saying that President Donald Trump was lying when he said on Truth Social that Hochul had just released 7,000 hardcore criminals onto the streets of New York. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Hochul only released 6,947 criminal illegal aliens, and she didn't "just" do it — she did it over the course of 2025.
This is a lie. Donald Trump made it up. https://t.co/F2wscqHysX
— Governor Hochul Press Office (@NYGovPress) August 31, 2026
Hochul's press office got hit with a Community Note:
Readers added context
The 7000 number refers to a December 2025 DHS report of 6947 criminal non-citizens released in New York since January 2025 after local officials did not honor ICE detainers. Governor Hochul granted clemency to six individuals on August 28 2026.
According to a December 2025 press release from the Department of Homeland Security:
New York’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens since January 20. The crimes of these aliens include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 dangerous drugs offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 207 sexual predatory offenses.
There are currently 7,113 aliens in the custody of a New York jurisdiction with an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 148 homicides, 717 assaults, 134 burglaries, 106 robberies, 235 dangerous drugs offenses, 152 weapons offenses, and 260 sexual predatory offenses.
In September, ICE sent a letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James asking for cooperation in honoring ICE detainers on criminal illegal aliens. Her office did not respond.
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You lie like water, so no, sorry, we don't believe you.
— Kyle Raccio (@kyleraccio) August 31, 2026
Your sanctuary policy directly led to this.
— Joel Schamber (@JoelSchamber) August 31, 2026
You can always count on Democrat governors to make a stupid public statements, only to be immediately hamstrung by reality and community notes.
— Shay (@MightBeUrDaddy8) August 31, 2026
Go put on your thinking hijab and try again.
You know we have the internet, right?
— JL67 (@dualpatriot67) August 31, 2026
Because 6,947 is less than 7,000?
— Wonky Astromech Droid (@FaultyMotivator) August 31, 2026
Where "lie" = completely true.
— Chuck (@ItsChuck66) August 31, 2026
6947 is close enough to 7000 for me. But that only covers 2025.
— dcnh (@dcnh42) August 31, 2026
Sorry off by 53. 😂
— Adam Getchell (@TheGetchell) August 31, 2026
It’s NOT a lie. She released 7,000 illegals after refusing to comply with detainers. And no, there is no such thing as a warrant for the detention of an illegal immigrant. A detainer is all that is required and it’s literally in the law. This was a sanctuary state decision
— BobSacamano951 (@BobSacamano951) August 31, 2026
It’s not a lie. You signed the requirement that ICE can’t cooperate with local law enforcement, so those people are out on the street.
— Possibly (@Possiblyinabit) August 31, 2026
No it's not a lie.....you allowed that to happen by shielding them against ICE.
— GaryJohnPaul (@HortaOfJanusIV) August 31, 2026
You are the liar.
Why won't she just have them cooperate with federal agencies instead of being defiant? What is her excuse? Orange man bad?
— Brent Camponi (@Brent_Camponi) August 31, 2026
Well… I guess it was more appropriate to say that you allowed the release of almost 7000 criminal non-citizens because you refuse to honor ICE detainers. Pretty much the same thing.
— cr_clark (@cr_clark) August 31, 2026
But she didn't just do it; she did it throughout 2025. So Trump is lying.
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