NY and DC Aren’t Engaged in an All-Out War Over Immigration — But the State Should Provide More Support to Trump

The Trump team is criticizing New York for its handling of illegal migrants: Although it’s not a total crisis yet, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams would significantly benefit themselves and their constituents by enhancing collaboration with Washington.

On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit against New York for restricting that cooperation, pointing to the state’s Green Light law which provides driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and prohibits inquiries regarding immigration status, necessitating a judge’s order for any disclosure of state information.

State officials even alert drivers when immigration officials seek their information.

“Sovereign” states can choose not to participate in immigration enforcement, Bondi acknowledged, but when “inaction crosses into obstruction, a State breaks the law” — as the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause holds New York law subordinate to federal law.

In the meantime, border czar Tom Homan is “not satisfied” with Adams’ current level of cooperation.

After meeting on Thursday, the mayor promised to issue an executive order allowing ICE agents to operate on Rikers Island, prioritizing “violent criminals and gangs.”

This is a positive step.

Adams has publicly expressed his desire to assist in apprehending violent migrant criminals. However, he’s limited by sanctuary laws that the City Council has yet to amend.

These laws prohibit federal agents from accessing public buildings, for instance, so a recent memo from City Hall merely reminded city employees that shielding an illegal alien from “detection” is a “federal crime” and encouraged them to cooperate with agents if “you reasonably . . . fear for your safety.”

Homan, understandably, is calling for more action.

In fact, the newly enacted Laken Riley Act enhances federal powers to pursue criminal migrants, which should compel the city (and state) to relinquish additional “sanctuary” protections.

Let’s be clear: President Donald Trump was elected to address President Joe Biden’s migrant crisis, and he’s tackling this issue by discouraging potential migrants through initiatives targeting criminal border-crossers already present, alongside stricter enforcement at the border which has reduced crossings to a level not seen for six decades, as detailed here.

However, open-border lawmakers have transformed New York into a sanctuary for migrants — including those with violent criminal histories — which increasingly defies federal law.

Moreover, state and city policies contradict the preferences of New Yorkers: A recent Siena poll indicated that a substantial 80% support the deportation of illegals who commit crimes.

On a broader scale, voters in the Empire State even express 48% support for Trump’s overall deportation initiatives compared to 31% who oppose them.

This puts Hochul in a position where she must reconcile her declared support for “deporting violent criminals” with her strong advocacy for the Green Light law — a law she ironically opposed when she was Erie County clerk two decades ago.

“There’s no way I’m allowing federal agents, or Elon Musk’s obscure DOGE operation, unrestricted access to the personal data of any New Yorker in the [Division of Motor Vehicles] system,” stated Hochul.

The governor should reconsider her stance unless she wants to escalate a conflict over an issue that her own constituents support Trump on.

(She needs to clarify her “villains” as well: DOGE isn’t the issue here; rather, it’s disputing the city over $80 million in FEMA funds allocated for immigration purposes.)

Hochul and Adams must resolve their disagreements with Washington; the governor can make a significant move by repealing the Cuomo “sanctuary” executive orders, while Adams opens the doors to ICE once more at Rikers Island.

Radicals may protest, but New York voters will rally behind leaders who prioritize common sense.