Gov. Hochul Urges Review of Deportation of Migrants Involved in Police Confrontation

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says the state should consider deporting the five migrants released after a shocking caught-on-video attack on two police officers outside a migrant shelter in Manhattan’s Times Square.

Four men were charged, with offenses including assault on a police officer, gang assault, obstructing government administration and disorderly conduct in the altercation Saturday night on West 42nd Street. A fifth was arrested later on charges of attempted assault on a police officer and gang assault.

They were released without bail Wednesday.

“I think that’s actually something that should be looked at,” Hochul said of the assailants being deported, the New York Post reported. “I mean, if someone commits a crime against a police officer in the state of New York and they’re not here legally, it’s definitely worth checking into.

“These are law enforcement officers who should never under any circumstances be subjected to physical assault. It’s wrong on all accounts and I’m looking to judges and prosecutors to do the right thing.”

Video showed an NYPD officer and lieutenant telling a group of migrants to move along before a scuffle broke out. The officers then were kicked and punched as they tried to wrestle some of the men to the ground.

The assailants were identified as Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19; Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19; Wilson Juarez, 21; Jhoan Boada, 22; and Yorman Reveron, 24.

Hochul said she believes lenient bail reform measures passed by Democrat lawmakers in Albany since 2019 are working overall — but that she’s “not satisfied at all” with the handling of the attack, the Post reported.

“That situation is abhorrent to me,” she said.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., also raged at the release.

“That law that’s prohibiting cooperation between NYPD and federal immigration enforcement — it just has to stop,” she told the Post.

“Republicans, independents, Democrats should at least be able to agree that if you’re in this city, and you’re committing a crime, you have given up any opportunity to ever become a part of this citizenry, period,” she said.

New York City’s “sanctuary city” status makes it illegal to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement about criminal defendants; the city does not, however, provide sanctuary from prosecution for crimes including homicide, manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and human and sex trafficking, the Post reported.

A spokesperson for Hochul said her office has spoken with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office about the attack, the outlet reported.

“Under existing state law, assaulting a police officer is a bail-eligible crime and district attorneys must hold offenders accountable,” the Hochul spokesperson said.