NY Governor Hochul to Border Czar: 'We've Already Sent 1,600 Convicted Criminals to ICE'

New York Governor Kathy Hochul directly addressed remarks made by Tom Homan, the former border security official under the Trump administration, who had vowed to deploy an unprecedented number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the state. Hochul asserted that New York is already actively cooperating with federal authorities.

During a conference in Albany, Hochul highlighted that New York's fiscal year 2027 budget includes measures to enhance security. She pointed out that the state has already handed over more than 1,600 individuals convicted of crimes to ICE. "This is what President Trump said he would do: go after the worst of the worst, and that is what we are prepared to support," Hochul stated, differentiating this cooperation from actions against ordinary residents.

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This is what President Trump said he would do: go after the worst of the worst, and that is what we are prepared to support.

Hochul referenced a past conversation with then-President Donald Trump regarding Minneapolis, suggesting that federal intervention often occurs only when invited. She indicated that she would not extend such an invitation to federal immigration agents in New York, urging a focus on "doing the job" rather than engaging in rhetoric.

The governor further explained that New York's new state budget provisions are designed to shield communities, such as Syracuse, from what she perceives as potential overreach by immigration authorities. While these protections are in place, she stressed that they do not impede cooperation with federal agencies concerning individuals who have committed crimes. Hochul maintained that local police departments should collaborate with federal authorities to remove criminals, but she believes federal agencies possess sufficient resources for civil immigration enforcement.

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doing the job