WASHINGTON – The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has hit back at Gov. Kathy Hochul after she introduced a proposal Thursday to prohibit law enforcement officials from covering their faces while interacting with the public, as she continues to negotiate a bill to limit when local police can cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“Partnerships with law enforcement are critical to having the resources we need to arrest criminal illegal aliens across the country,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said. “We have had tremendous success when local law enforcement works with us.”
The DHS pointed to 40,000 arrests made by ICE in Florida and a recent two-week operation in West Virginia that resulted in the arrests of as many as 650 illegal immigrants. According to the DHS, eight of the 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.
Hochul said the state “prides itself on being the place that immigrants come to build a better life, and we will not stand for senseless actions that stand in the way of that promise.”
“My top priority is keeping New Yorkers safe, which is why I’m proposing new measures to stop ICE’s flagrant abuse of power under the guise of public safety,” Hochul added. “By safeguarding basic rights and expanding protections that keep our communities safe, we are fighting to reassure every New Yorker that we will protect them from ICE overreach.”
The governor’s proposal would prohibit state and local law enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration enforcement for noncriminal violations such as jaywalking or minor vehicle and traffic violations. The proposal also would limit law enforcement officers from asking, collecting or sharing information about immigration status unless it is legally required or relevant to a crime.
The governor’s proposal also would prohibit local governments, state and local police, and corrections agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements or similar arrangements with the federal government that allow state and local resources to be used for civil immigration enforcement. It would also bar local governments from helping pay for or facilitating immigration detention facilities.
Hochul also wants to prohibit officers from wearing face coverings while interacting with the public, except for tactical gear, sunglasses, and medical masks. Violations would be misdemeanors.
Comments