New York Governor Criticizes ICE Operations
During a recent episode of MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) addressed new legislation she enacted that prohibits local law enforcement from forming specific agreements with ICE. She expressed her desire for the agency to be disbanded, stating, “I wish they would just disband and go back to the old Immigration and Naturalization Service.” She further described ICE as a “rogue policing state” causing chaos across the country.
Hochul emphasized that while New York doesn’t seek to be a sanctuary for criminals, the state collaborates with federal law enforcement, including ICE, to maintain safety for its residents. “We always have and always will work to get criminals off the streets and into the criminal justice system,” she said. Her statement underscored the importance of detaining those who pose a true threat to public safety.
The Governor clarified the issue with local law enforcement’s involvement with ICE, mentioning that some counties had formal partnerships for civil immigration enforcement. She argued that this approach targeted individuals for minor offenses, such as unlawful entry, including those who held temporary protective status or married to U.S. citizens. “They’re going after everybody because they have to hit those inane Stephen Miller quotas,” she added. Hochul noted that a newly passed law, effective this week, no longer permits these agreements, allowing local police to concentrate on immediate local crimes. She reflected on the decline in crime rates during her tenure, attributing it to enhanced support for law enforcement and the rebuilding of trust between communities and police.
Concluding her remarks, she asserted that local police should not be diverted from their primary responsibilities to aid a large federal agency, emphasizing, “It’s an $85 billion agency. I think they can take care of themselves.” Hochul expressed nostalgia for the previous Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), stating, “People trusted them. They did their jobs.” She firmly declared that New York will no longer support this model of policing.
