Syracuse – New York Democrats Push for Sanctuary State Legislation

Recently, New York Democrats gathered in Syracuse, signing a bill that denounces ICE and supports efforts to declare New York a sanctuary state. Their aim? To leverage rising frustrations with ICE into a compelling campaign issue ahead of the midterm elections in November.

During a unanimous vote at the state convention, the Democratic Party expressed their backing for a symbolic resolution that promotes the New York for All Act. This influential legislation would prevent local governments from cooperating with ICE.

Part of the resolution states, “ICE has become an agency that operates with violence, impunity, and complete disregard for human and civilian life.” The New York for All Act is designed to ensure that state and local resources are not used to further ICE’s activities, largely protecting non-criminal federal immigrants.

Interestingly, a Siena College poll released this week revealed that around 61% of voters in New York oppose ICE’s methods. This sentiment seems to be echoed even in suburban areas.

The endorsement from party leaders like House Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins indicates that the Democrats are ready to make immigration a key topic for their campaign.

Representative Brian Cunningham, a supporter of Governor Hochul, has publicly criticized Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. He accused Blakeman of being too cozy with ICE, stating, “He’s someone who thinks ICE is doing a great job. Today there was unanimous agreement among Democrats that humans are not doing a great job.”

In a notable shift, Governor Hochul has started to focus more on challenging ICE, particularly following the tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Preti amid intensified federal immigration actions in Minneapolis. She has mentioned intentions to introduce legislation that would stop local governments from establishing formal agreements with ICE, though specific details remain vague.

In a counterargument, Blakeman pointed to the cooperation with ICE, claiming it has allowed the removal of over 2,000 criminals in Nassau County and surrounding areas who would otherwise have been released due to Hochul’s cashless bail initiative.