NY Republicans propose legislation to reverse 'sanctuary' laws to enable cooperation with ICE

Minority Republicans in the New York state legislature recently proposed legislation that would effectively reverse the state's and New York City's "sanctuary" policies. If passed, the reversal would allow local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The legislation, S.8533/A.9167, is sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, Deputy Republican Leader Andrew Lanza, and Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo.

The Republican lawmakers blamed the sanctuary policies for preventing federal officials from addressing the immigration issue. According to Lanza, the state's current sanctuary status "ties the hands of law enforcement."

"The failed immigration policies of President Biden and Governor Hochul are making New Yorkers less safe. Illegal migrants attacking our citizens and our brave men and women in law enforcement must be deported. This bill reverses course and allows our courts and police to notify federal authorities to get these dangerous people off our streets," Lanza stated.

In 2017, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed an executive order that prevented cooperation with ICE agents.

The proposed legislation would require local law enforcement officials and certain courts to notify federal agencies about an arrest or conviction involving a non-citizen.

On Tuesday, Lanza said, "New York citizens, through warped elected officials, give you free food, free clothing, free shelter, gift cards, televisions, whatever you want, and then you decide to thank New Yorkers by breaking the law."

"That's how you thank New Yorkers?" he asked. Lanza called for violent illegal migrants to be removed from the country.

Over the past year and a half, over 170,000 migrants have arrived in New York City.

If passed, the legislation would also "reinstate the maximum sentence for 365 day maximum sentence for a class A misdemeanor, and would repeal the 'protect our courts act' of 2020, which was designed to discourage cooperation and enforcement of federal immigration laws," according to Lanza.

New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams told Fox Nation that the city is "out of room" to house migrants.

"We're not just saying we're out of room as a sound bite. We're out of room, literally. People are going to be eventually sleeping on the streets," Adams added.

When asked by Fox Nation what it would take for him to "close the front door" on the city's sanctuary policies, Adams replied that he does not have the authority to stop the flow of incoming migrants.

"The law states that we cannot notify ICE. I cannot break the law and enforce the law. I can't deport. I can't stop people from coming in; repeated criminal behavior, I can't report to ICE for deportation. So there's certain things I can't do," Adams explained.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!