Mayor Eric Adams announced the arrests of seven migrants related to a theft pattern on Monday.

“It doesn’t matter if a person is a migrant or asylum seeker or the person is a long-term New Yorker. You break the law, it will be investigated, and it will be handled by our criminal justice system,” Adams said at a news briefing.

The NYPD said 14 migrants led by Victor Parra were involved in 62 incidents of theft in the city’s streets and subway system. They stole phones and purses from women.

“These thieves would ride up behind their victims on the sidewalk and steal their property and then make their getaway. The majority of the victims are women simply just walking alone,” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

Police officials said once the phones were stolen, they were then hacked and used to make illegal financial transactions.

“Once the victim’s account is empty, or a hold is placed or holds are put on the transactions. Victor Parra will ship the phones to Colombia to be reprogrammed,” Kenny said.

The NYPD executed a warrant at the residence of Parra on Monday morning arresting five migrants at the time. Overall, seven migrants have been arrested in relation to the robbery sprees. However, Parra remains at large.

The arrests come as the city is grappling with some isolated incidents involving migrants, including an assault on officers in Times Square. Adams discussed the incident earlier on Monday.

“I think deport after they have served their sentence here for the crime that they committed,” Adams said.

New York City is a “sanctuary city.” The status means that local law enforcement doesn’t largely cooperate with federal immigration officials.

However, some Republican officials called on the city to cooperate with federal immigration officials. Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and City Councilman Joe Borelli were at a rally with an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official on Monday morning calling for the deportation of certain migrants.

“Despite the city’s attempts to play semantics, the reality is they’re refusing to cooperate with federal detainer and deportation requests with administrative warrants from ICE, even as hundreds of migrants continue to be arrested for murder, stabbings, robberies and assault across the city,” Malliotakis said in a statement.

“I cannot use city resources based on existing law. I think that’s a question that should be presented to the [City] Council,” Adams said.

The mayor said there should be a change to the law specifically related to repeat offenders.

“You repeatedly commit felonies, dangerous crimes. If you’re found guilty, you should not be in our city,” he said.

And the city’s top cop raised the volume of concern over some of the migrants.

“In recent months a wave of migrant crime has washed over our city,” Police Commissioner Edward Caban said at the news briefing.

But the tough on migrant crime messaging is in complete opposition to the mayor’s messaging around arriving asylum seekers.

“I strongly believe that the overwhelming number of the 175,000, they’re here trying to take the next step in the American Dream,” Adams said early Monday.

Nearly 175,000 asylum seekers have come to the city with about nearly 67,000 in the city’s care.

Adams also addressed his relationship with the White House amid the crisis. The city has repeatedly asked for assistance, receiving little aid. He said his pleas have been about fighting for the needs of New Yorkers.

“Once you are elected, I believe it’s about our city. I believe in New York, and this has hurt us,” Adams said.