NYC pols urge Kathy Hochul to temporarily waive 'sanctuary' laws
Share and Follow

A group of City Council members has urged Governor Hochul to utilize her emergency powers to suspend New York City’s sanctuary city laws temporarily. They cite the heightened risk of terrorist threats stemming from the current migrant crisis as the primary reason for their request.

“New York City is a prime target for terrorism, and we cannot afford to be complacent in the face of such threats,” Council members Robert Holden (D-Queens), Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) and the rest of the nine-member “Common Sense Caucus” wrote Wednesday.

Sanctuary laws prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from cooperating fully with local law enforcement — and that “severely hampers our efforts to ensure the safety of our residents,” they wrote.

“The recent surge in violent crime, including incidents involving migrant gangs in Central Park and Queens parks — where they have been reported to be raping, robbing, assaulting, and even shooting at police officers — demands immediate and decisive action,” the officials added.

The six Republicans and three moderate Dems highlighted other problems, including: the June arrests in New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia of Tajikistani nationals affiliated with ISIS-K, and a Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General report last month that “revealed significant flaws in border vetting processes, underscore the severity” of terror threats.

The governor can temporarily halt NYC’s sanctuary city status through executive order, but any permanent changes must be approved by the City Council, which is dominated by left-wing pols.

The Big Apple’s sanctuary status dates back to 1989 when then-Mayor Ed Koch put it in place to help ensure non-citizens who are victims of crimes can cooperate with authorities without fear of being deported.

The rules have been updated three times, including a series of controversial left-wing policies pushed into law from 2014 to 2018 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio and then-Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito which dramatically limited the NYPD and city Correction and Probation departments’ ability to cooperate with ICE agents.

The rule changes also outlawed city buildings, including the Rikers Island jail complex, and other city resources from being used to enforce federal immigration laws.

In February, Mayor Eric Adams called for the rules to be loosened so migrants “suspected” of “serious” crimes could also be turned over to ICE — as they once were under the city’s earlier sanctuary policies.

Hochul’s staff did not return messages.

In June, caucus members asked a mayoral-appointed Charter Revision Commission to put a referendum question on the ballot to decide whether to roll back the sanctuary laws to the pre-de Blasio era.

The commission declined to take on the issue.

Holden and Borelli, who co-chair the caucus, also drafted legislation to repeal the sanctuary laws — but admit it’s a pipe dream to believe the bill would pass.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani draws criticism for 'intifada' remarks

Zohran Mamdani under fire for controversial comments on ‘intifada’

Zohran Mamdani, a candidate in the Democratic primary for the New York…
IHOP workers in Missouri town say weeks have gone by without pay

Employees at IHOP in a Missouri town report not receiving payment for weeks

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Workers at a Lee’s Summit IHOP claim they…
Blue states rolling back health care for undocumented immigrants

Democratic states reducing healthcare services for undocumented individuals

A trio of Democrat-led states facing budget crises are moving to cut…
'I didn't know what it was': Woman hit by possible stray bullet while in bed

Woman unknowingly hit by stray bullet while in bed

DENVER (KDVR) A woman was hit by a possible stray bullet while…
Florida offers Trump 'alligator Alcatraz' to detain illegal migrants

“Florida Proposes Using Alligator-Filled Prison Island to Hold Illegal Migrants”

Illegal migrants could soon be held in a massive new immigration detention…
Florida dad arrested after toddler dies in hot car while he allegedly got hair cut, 'went drinking': police

Florida dad arrested after toddler dies in hot car while he allegedly got hair cut, ‘went drinking’: police

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A Florida dad was…
Vance Boelter's wife in hiding as police say she didn't know his plan

“Wife of Vance Boelter Goes into Hiding after Police Reveal She Was Unaware of His Plan”

Vance Boelter’s frightened wife has chosen to remain out of the public…
Purdue Pharma's $7B opioid settlement plan could get votes from victims and cities

Victims and cities may vote on Purdue Pharma’s proposal for a $7 billion opioid settlement plan

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma ‘s $7 billion-plus plan to settle thousands of…