Gov. Kathy Hochul defends New York immigration policies against Republican attacks

WASHINGTON — Gov. Kathy Hochul insisted before a congressional panel on Thursday that New York does cooperate with federal immigration authorities on criminal matters, as she defended the state’s patchwork of sanctuary immigration laws.

"Our state laws dictate that we cooperate with ICE in criminal cases," Hochul said in prepared remarks delivered to the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.

In a marathon hearing, Hochul, Gov. JB Pritzker, of Illinois, and Gov. Tim Walz, of Minnesota, all Democrats, were grilled by Republican lawmakers on policies in their states that limit state agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcers without a judicial warrant or court order.

The governors were called to testify before the panel in April by committee chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who opened the hearing by arguing blue-state policies were protecting "criminal illegal aliens."

"Congress must consider whether to defund every single penny of federal dollars going to cities and states that prioritize criminal aliens over the American people," Comer said.

The governors pushed back on claims that they were protecting criminals from deportation.

"New York is not a sanctuary or haven for criminals," Hochul told lawmakers. "We do cooperate with ICE when it comes to investigating or building a case against criminals. We do this all the time."

Hochul said New York has turned over 1,300 state prisoners to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents since she took office in August 2021.

Aggressive questioning

Hochul, who is seeking reelection next year, faced particularly heated rounds of questioning from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Pearl River), who are both reportedly weighing runs for governor.

"You are shielding illegals," Stefanik said as she ran through a list of immigrants without legal status who have been arrested in New York on sexual assault charges.

Stefanik took aim at Hochul for not immediately recognizing the names of criminally indicted immigrants arrested in high-profile cases, including Wilson Castillo Diaz, a Honduran national who was living in Westbury and was arrested by Nassau  police last October on charges he raped a 5-year-old girl.

Hochul repeatedly pushed back against Stefanik saying, "we do cooperate fully with ICE," and accused Stefanik of "going after the viral moment," referring to the practice used by both parties to turn hearing footage into campaign ads.

"I'm standing up for New Yorkers rather than the illegals," Stefanik shot back.

Lawler asked Hochul whether she supported a Democratic state bill known as the "New York for All Act" that would restrict ICE’s ability to access state databases and would limit local law enforcement agencies from actively acting as immigration enforcers.

Hochul replied: "I never say how I'm going to decide on a bill until it lands on my desk."

Hochul twice confronted calls that she be criminally prosecuted over the state's immigration policies from two of the panel's immigration hard-liners.

Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) said the trio of governors should be charged with obstruction, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said Hochul should be prosecuted for the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed in February 2024 by a Venezuelan migrant, who was previously arrested and released in Queens.

Hochul said her heart broke for Riley's parents.

Criticism of Trump

At the start of the hearing, Hochul took aim at President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to quell protests that erupted over the weekend after a series of immigration raids. The military mobilization came over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who argued the move was inciting tensions.

"This is a flagrant abuse of power and nothing short of an assault on our American values," Hochul said.

Walz, last year’s Democratic vice presidential candidate, fielded questions about his support for former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as Republicans blamed Biden for mishandling immigration enforcement at the southern border.

"We may disagree on the best way to maintain border security and public safety ... we should all be able to agree on a few principles — that everyone in America deserves due process and that we live in a free country," Walz said.

Pritzker, who like Walz has been floated as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, said "safe and compassionate immigration policies are vital."

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.