New York Governor Kathy Hochul appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition to discuss her proposed legislation that would ban police departments in the state from formally cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The interview followed recent incidents involving federal immigration agents, including a shooting in Minnesota, which have prompted several states and localities to reconsider their policies regarding ICE.
Hochul explained that while New York City is recognized as a sanctuary city, some counties and sheriff’s departments elsewhere in the state have enhanced their cooperation with ICE. “Well, New York City is a sanctuary city, but statewide, we have had counties and sheriff’s departments and other policing organizations, even as close as Nassau County on Long Island, that have bulked up their local police department to become basically deputized ICE agents. So it is happening in other parts of our state, where they’re using local resources that are taking away from local policing. And that’s the genesis of this, which is saying, you know, let ICE do their job. We don’t agree with how they’re doing it, I think they’re a rogue agency out of control. But separate from that, our local police should be focused on solving local crimes or preventing crimes, and not have them weaponize police officers against their own communities,” said Hochul.
The governor cited specific cases to highlight the impact of current practices on immigrant families. She recounted meeting people affected by these policies: “Because it shouldn’t be going on anywhere. We have counties like – as I mentioned, Nassau County’s a very large county right next to New York City and has a large immigrant population. And literally in my office, you know, a short time ago, I hosted people who’ve been affected by this. And one was a sixth-grade boy sobbing in my arms because his father was taken away from him by the local police officers – not ICE, but local police turned him over to ICE, and he was…all he was doing was walking on the sidewalk outside of Home Depot. This child is traumatized. As a mom, I just – I’m sobbing. I mean, the stories are just so egregious, and that’s happening in a very populated county right here in New York.”
Asked why she does not support the broader New York for All bill sought by immigration advocates for greater protections for immigrants, Hochul stated: “Well, I sat with representatives from the coalitions this morning who gave me a lot of praise for what I did on Friday and recommending this bill, so they thought it was a very positive step. The New York for All Act wasn’t passed by our legislature last year, it was passed by one of the two Houses. And there’s absolutely elements of that that I believe we can find common ground with and get over the finish line. So the conversations are still ongoing.”
In response to criticism from federal officials who claim her legislation would force federal agents into more visible roles in communities if denied cooperation from local law enforcement agencies, Hochul commented: “Well, why don’t they take off their masks, and we’ll really know who they are? I mean, they surround people’s vehicles wearing masks, bearing guns. Like, we don’t know if these are like people involved in gang warfare or not. I mean they need to be under control and that’s what I’m calling for as well.”
When asked whether her policy might lead to an increased presence of federal agents if local cooperation ends, Hochul replied: “I’m not buying that argument. No they don’t… Why don’t they focus on what they promised during the election? Remember the phrase we’re going after the baddest of the bad… I’m not seeing that when I’m talking to a sixth-grader whose dad was walking down the street in front of a Home Depot… They have deviated from their original mission… And people now who maybe voted for them are having second thoughts…”
She added concerns about ICE enforcement quotas: “The Trump Administration ought to pay close attention to the support he is…they are losing by the hour. And it comes down to the fact that they have a quota of 3,000 people a day. So if they’ve already gotten all the worst of the worst and baddest of the bad… now you’re going after ordinary people trying to live a life… just like my immigrant grandparents did.”
On next steps for her proposal within state government processes she said: “Well it’s – it’ll be introduced. The legislative leaders and I will be meeting on this… But we stand together in this… This is a moment in history where we’ll be judged by whether we stood up or we cowered to power… sit in a room with me when I’ve got children crying in my arms… What has happened to our country and how do we take it back?”