Former Governor David Paterson recently spoke out against Governor Kathy Hochul and her fellow Democrats for passing an anti-ICE sanctuary law, suggesting that it could negatively impact the state of New York.
Paterson accused Hochul and lawmakers in Albany of “seriously undermining” local governments’ capacity to work with federal agencies. He expressed concern that this could lead to more federal raids and possible lawsuits involving taxpayer money.
“I heard the federal government might start replacing local governments,” Paterson mentioned during an interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on 77 WABC’s “Cats Roundtable.”
Reflecting on his time as governor, Paterson, who also led the New York State Democratic Party, noted, “I tried to protect that.”
His remarks followed the passage of significant legislation designed to restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This new law would not only prevent local officials from working with federal immigration authorities, but it would also bar ICE agents from accessing most public places, like hospitals and parks, and prohibit them from wearing masks.
The bill also seeks to end the 287(g) agreements that allow local governments to detain individuals for ICE. Nassau County, where Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman currently holds the role of county executive, would be affected.
A state bill that was approved last week goes further, prohibiting any “informal cooperation” between local police and ICE, such as alerting them about suspected undocumented immigrants.
Blakeman characterized Paterson as a “common sense” Democrat. He remarked, “Common sense Democrats understand that Kathy Hochul’s policies are making our neighborhoods less safe. Governor Paterson is a reasonable and thoughtful Democrat, and it’s clear he’s concerned about this harmful legislation.”
Paterson believes that Republican county leaders could sue Hochul and the Democrats for limiting their ability to assist the federal government in enforcing immigration laws.
“Counties like Nassau and Suffolk could band together and file lawsuits against the Legislature and the governor for this approach,” said Paterson, who served from 2008 to 2010 after Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. “I just don’t get how we ended up in this position.”
“They made a significant mistake,” he added about his fellow Democrats.
The legislative package includes:
- A “Bivens method” allowing individuals to sue ICE agents for violating their constitutional rights, such as entering homes without a warrant.
- Restrictions on public officials—including law enforcement and DMV staff—from engaging with federal immigration agents unless there’s a court-issued warrant.
- The establishment of an “Office of Immigration Trust” within Attorney General Letitia James’s office, which would have the power to enforce the law’s provisions, targeting non-compliant local governments.
- A requirement that federal law enforcement officers cannot wear masks to hide their identities.
- A stipulation preventing local governments from approving zoning changes for immigrant detention centers without a six-month public commentary period.
Governor Hochul is aiming for re-election this fall. Earlier this year, she expressed her anti-ICE stance, especially in reaction to increased ICE activity during the Trump administration.
In a recent press conference, Hochul defended her position on limiting cooperation with ICE. “State law will take precedence over local preferences in this regard, and the Attorney General’s Office will have the power to enforce compliance, similar to other New York laws,” she asserted.
