The Albany Democrat on Tuesday effectively repealed the Laken Act, which requires New York authorities to notify federal immigration authorities when they apprehend immigrants.
The bill, named after a University of Georgia student who was allegedly killed by immigrants earlier this year, nearly died on arrival in the left-leaning state Legislature. But Republicans on Tuesday at least attempted a procedural maneuver to force Democrats to consider the bill in the House Legislation Committee.
The proposal was tabled quickly, but there is little chance it will be tabled before lawmakers leave Albany within weeks, effectively killing it.
The bill would require local law enforcement to send arrest records and fingerprints to Immigration and Customs Enforcement whenever New York authorities arrest a noncitizen.
Riley’s suspected killer entered the country illegally and applied for asylum, but later failed to appear in U.S. court on shoplifting charges. He was eventually arrested on a felony charge in New York City for allegedly endangering his 5-year-old stepson. He was then released before ICE attempted to block his release, after which he allegedly killed a nursing student.
Rep. Jarrett Gandolfo (R-Long Island) introduced the bill earlier this year after a group of immigrants who got into a scuffle with two police officers in Times Square were arrested and later released before being reported to ICE. submitted.
“The Laken Act is common sense legislation that protects New Yorkers and ensures criminal immigrants are held accountable,” the bill’s sponsor, Jarrett Gandolfo (R-Long Island), said in a statement.
“Thanks to today’s vote, New York will continue to be a preferred destination for people who cross our southern border illegally, especially those looking to commit crimes,” he said.
Mr. Gandolfo and Republicans argue that the law is similar to the so-called “sanctuary policies” adopted by the Big Apple and other Democratic-led municipalities to help protect immigrants by limiting cooperation between local and federal authorities on immigration matters. It was hoped that it would be a counterbalance to the “City” policy.
But Code Committee Chairman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) said at Tuesday’s meeting that “New York state stands in a position to protect people who come to this country in search of a better life and protect them from heavy-handed immigration enforcement.” “We have maintained this,” he said.
“This bill requires notification to ICE of anyone accused or accused of a deportable crime, and not everyone supports it,” he continued. .
“Today’s vote shows that New York Democrats are far more concerned with protecting their ‘sanctuary’ policies than they are with protecting the rest of the nation,” Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay (R-Oswego) said in a statement to the Post. “It shows that we are interested in it,” he said.
