Hochul told reporters that she will be the “first one to call up ICE” in order to deport illegal immigrant criminals in the state. Previously, New York had been unwilling to work with ICE. Trump’s new border czar Tom Homan has said he would undertake mass deportations with or without cooperation from local elected leaders and officals.
Hochul said that the US immigration system is “woefully broken” but blamed Republicans in Congress for failing to pass a border security bil. The bill she referenced, broached in June, would have allowed at least 1.4 million people to cross the border illegally per year.
“Those who come here legally, we want to get them jobs,” Hochul said. “I have 460,000 open jobs in the state of New York. I want them to get the proper work permits. I want them to keep their temporary protective status, if that’s what they have. I want to make sure that they’re part of contributing to society while they’re here. That’s separate from people who are criminals. Someone breaks the law, I’ll be the first one to call up ICE and say, get them out of here.”
Hochul was asked how she would handle those illegal immigrants who were guilty of an illegal border crossing, or overstaying a visa, but clear of additional crimes. Hochul said that those “seeking asylum” are in the US “legally” but added that those who “commit crimes” or committed crimes prior to their arrival to the US should be deported. “I don’t want anybody terrorizing my citizens. So that’s the difference,” she added.
This comes as New York City Mayor Eric Adams has also said that he will work with President-elect Donald Trump on the immigration crisis that has plagued New York City.
