Two NY Counties Defy Hochul and Collaborate with ICE

Last week, two Venezuelan migrants, alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, were released without bail after the Queens District Attorney’s Office downgraded their felony gun and drug charges.

They should have been on a flight back to Caracas instead of strolls through New York.

The fault lies with the city and state’s sanctuary laws that restrict collaboration with President Trump’s immigration enforcement objectives aimed at deporting criminal aliens.

However, if Governor Kathy Hochul, state Democrats, and progressive prosecutors refuse to cooperate with the President and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), two counties in New York are willing to take action.

Rensselaer County, located just east of Albany, has been collaborating with federal partners to deport migrant criminals since 2018, when County Executive Steve McLaughlin joined ICE’s 287(g) program.

This program trains local sheriff’s deputies in immigration regulations, allowing them to interview inmates about their immigration status.

If deputies confirm that a suspect is unlawfully present in the U.S., they can submit a detainer and transfer the individual to ICE for deportation proceedings.

Despite its smaller population, Rensselaer County officials have identified hundreds of dangerous, unlawfully present individuals in their jail, demonstrating that even in less populated areas, close coordination with ICE is an effective strategy for public safety.

Permitting ICE agents to apprehend these criminals directly from jail, instead of searching for them post-release, considerably minimizes risks for state and local law enforcement.

This month, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman also implemented the 287(g) program, allocating 50 dedicated jail cells for criminal migrants and assigning 10 specialized Nassau County detectives the authority to conduct immigration arrests beyond jail facilities.

Blakeman cited serious crimes committed by illegal migrants in Nassau, such as a Honduran individual who sexually assaulted a young girl, and a group of South American robbers who removed their ankle monitors using their own burglary tools.

For years, Long Island has contended with transnational gangs such as MS-13.

“When there are no consequences for criminal actions, they will continue to engage in such behavior,” stated Blakeman.

Rensselaer and Nassau are the only two New York counties that work so closely with ICE, providing valuable examples for local leaders across the state.

Nassau’s broader approach is well-suited for a county facing significant immigration challenges, particularly one adjacent to a major sanctuary city.

Conversely, Rensselaer illustrates that even smaller jurisdictions can achieve tangible outcomes by collaborating with ICE.

While Mayor Eric Adams has adopted pro-enforcement rhetoric, his public interactions with border czar Tom Homan have yet to benefit him or New York City.

If Adams intends to fulfill his law-and-order commitments, he must prioritize addressing the migrant crisis and the resulting crime.

This necessitates following through on reopening an ICE office at Rikers Island and enabling the Department of Correction and the NYPD to work directly with federal agents.

If the city’s outdated de Blasio-era sanctuary policies prevent Adams from establishing an ICE office at Rikers, perhaps he could consider an alternative location?

He could potentially set up an ICE station at the Queens end of the Rikers Island Bridge.

Partnering with the federal government to diminish the criminal migrant population is critical for New York, both literally and figuratively.

Subway incidents involving arson and gang-related drug operations jeopardize the safety of every New Yorker.

A significant majority (72%) of city voters support assisting immigration agents in deporting criminal aliens, a rare point of agreement across various political lines in New York.

Trump remains resolute on the issue of deportations.

The more New York resists, the more likely his administration will seek to target New York.

Eliminating protections for criminal aliens would demonstrate to Washington and the rest of the nation that New York is open to collaboration with the current administration — possibly leading to negotiations on vital issues like infrastructure and the SALT tax.

As New Yorkers face a migrant crisis beyond their control, they have endured a disproportionate share of the national burden — spending over $7 billion in New York City over the last three years.

Public services have been overwhelmed, numerous lives disrupted, all under the guise of sanctuary policies.

Enough is enough.

Those who arrive and abide by our laws deserve their due process.

Conversely, those who seek asylum under false pretenses and subsequently violate the law do not merit the ongoing benefits of our hospitality.

Law enforcement and local officials have an obligation to work with the federal government to ensure criminals face justice.

Even in the nation’s most welcoming city, one can overstay their welcome.

Paul Dreyer is a Cities Policy Analyst at the Manhattan Institute, while Kerry Soropoulos is a collegiate associate.