Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has slammed the Biden administration for cutting back hours at four northern border crossings as the number of migrants continues to surge.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced Tuesday that, in cooperation with Canada Border Services Agency, 38 facilities will reduce operating hours starting Jan. 6, including four in New York state.
Federal authorities said they would allow customs officers to be transferred to other busy ports of entry.
But Hochul said he was “opposed” to the move and wants the Biden administration to increase staffing along the U.S.-Canada border, where illegal immigration has increased over the past year.
“While the Biden-Harris administration has seen tangible success in strengthening southern border security, New York state has seen a dramatic increase in irregular crossings along our northern border,” he said in a statement. “Today, we need to expand enforcement at our northern border and call on U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reverse this decision.”
Hochul said New York state has redirected $5 million in federal Homeland Security program funds to strengthen security along the Canadian border, including purchasing additional tools to help investigate transnational criminal organizations. Ta.
“These critical resources will help keep New Yorkers safe and address the surge in illegal border crossings, but the scale of migration we are seeing requires increased federal support. is essential,” she said.
Hochul also criticized Congressional Republicans for failing to pass a bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill earlier this year, saying it would have given states like New York more resources to deal with the influx of immigrants from around the country. New York could no longer afford to wait for federal lawmakers to introduce a bill.” Activities. ”
New York state Republicans, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, whose district shares a border with Canada, have long called for increased oversight of the northern border.
“Enough is enough,” Stefanik said in a recent statement. “Our rural communities are suffering because of the America Last policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Kathy Hochul, and Chuck Schumer.”
It is true that border crossings in the north are on the rise, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection data showing 198,929 arrests and encounters in 2024, an increase from the previous year, which also set a record. is being updated.
That number still dwarfs the U.S.-Mexico border, where more than 1.5 million similar concerns occurred during the same period, according to the federal agency.
Republicans and others point to New York City's “sanctuary” status and other Democratic-backed policies that they say have encouraged more than 230,000 immigrants to flock to the city over the past two years.
President-elect Donald Trump's incoming border czar, Tom Homan, has vowed to oversee “the largest immigration crackdown in American history” and told New York City officials that ICE will increase its presence if sanctuary cities do not begin to be cleared. Cooperate in enforcing federal immigration laws.
Mayor Eric Adams has said he intends to work with the incoming Trump administration on the immigration crisis, but insists the city remains a sanctuary city.
