Tag Archives: ICE enforcement

Anti-Trump Activism, Civil Rights, Civil Rights-Human Rights, Governor Kathy Hochul, Immigration-Migration-Refugees, Law & Order, Public Safety-Crime-Law Enforcement

Governor Hochul Announces Expanded Proposal to Protect New Yorkers Against ICE 

Keeps Immigration Authorities Out Of Sensitive Location And Protects Interactions With Public Employees

Prohibits Law Enforcement from Covering Their Faces in Order to Conceal Their Identities

Protects Every Student’s Right To A Free Public Education Regardless Of Immigration Status

Builds on Governor’s ‘Local Cops, Local Crimes Act’ to Ensure Local Law Enforcement Is Focused on Fighting Local Crime

New Yorkers protest against ICE. Governor Hochul has introduced expanded proposals to restrict and limit ICE activities in New York State and protect New Yorkers’ civil and human rights © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Governor Kathy Hochul today proposed a comprehensive plan that would expand protections for New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, safeguard basic rights and hold federal immigration officials accountable. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul introduced several proposals to protect New Yorkers amid an unprecedented escalation in aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Building on her previous proposals, this comprehensive package would enhance protections and safeguard the rights of New Yorkers from the overreach of rogue federal immigration authorities.

“New York 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,” Governor Hochul said. “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. 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 time to act is now.”

Bans Law Enforcement from Wearing Masks

The Governor’s proposal would prohibit state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public. This excludes tactical equipment, sunglasses, or medical masks from the definition of face covering. Willfully violating the statute would be a misdemeanor.

Refocuses Local Law Enforcement on Local Crimes

This proposal would prohibit state and local law enforcement from coordinating with federal immigration enforcement for non-criminal violations like jaywalking or minor vehicle and traffic violations. The proposal would also 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 would also prohibit local governments, state and local police, and state and local corrections from entering 287(g) Agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local resources to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes. Local governments would also be barred from paying or otherwise contributing to the costs related to constructing, owning, or operating an immigration detention facility. They would also be prohibited from changing zoning to allow for construction or use of buildings as immigration detention centers without public input.

Holds Federal Law Enforcement Accountable for Constitutional Violations

Currently, New Yorkers can sue state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights under federal civil rights law but actions against federal officials are much more limited. The Governor’s proposal would establish a state law under which New Yorkers can bring a lawsuit against federal, state, and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights.

The Governor’s proposal would prohibit state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering to conceal their identities while interacting with the public. This would exclude tactical equipment, sunglasses, or medical face coverings.

Safeguards Interactions with Public Employees

The Governor’s proposal would strictly prohibit the use of state, local or school resources—including employee time—for immigration enforcement activities. This includes a ban on questioning or investigating individuals solely for civil immigration purposes, as well as inquiring about a person’s citizenship or country of origin unless required by a federal judicial warrant. Proposed legislation would also prohibit officials from disclosing personally identifying information to immigration authorities, granting them access to non-public areas of public facilities or using immigration officers as interpreters, and would prohibit the release or transfer of a student into immigration custody even if a parent has been detained, unless specifically mandated by a judicial warrant or court order.

Additionally, SED would develop a model policy for schools regarding interacting with immigration authorities.

Keeps Immigration Authorities Out Of Sensitive Locations

The Governor’s proposal would prohibit all state, local and school employees (including higher ed and k-12) from permitting access to any non-public area of a state-owned or operated facility to immigration authorities without a judicial warrant. That means any state or municipally owned, or operated facility including housing accommodations, parks, childcare facilities, preschools, hospitals, schools, dorms, healthcare facilities, community centers, libraries and shelters, cannot grant or facility access to any non-public areas of their facilities to immigration authorities without a warrant.

The Governor’s proposal would also empower privately owned or operated sensitive locations, including hospitals, daycares, schools, housing accommodations and houses of worship to do the same.

Protecting Every Student’s Right To A Free Public Education

In addition to protecting schools as sensitive locations, the Governor’s proposal would ensure immigrant students can access education, codifying the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status.

The proposal prohibits various practices, particularly around data collection and disclosure regarding immigration status, that could chill the exercise of that right by undocumented students.

“We will always help federal law enforcement when it comes to tracking down, apprehending and assisting in the prosecution of individuals who are accused of violent crimes, serious crimes — always have, always will,” Governor Hochul stated. “There is no deviation in our policy on that. But we will not let them go in and terrorize our cities, go after our neighbors because of the color of their skin, as we saw unfold in many cities across the country. We don’t want families to have parents afraid to send their children to school — as has been happening — or go to worship, and not go after neighbors just because of where they come from.”

Congress, Government spending, Homeland Security, News & Photo Features

‘ProblemSolvers’ Suozzi, Fitzpatrick Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Fund DHS, Reform ICE and Protect America

Legislation fully funds DHS while holding ICE to the same standards as every other law enforcement agency in the United States

Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY) is proposing the Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act, bipartisan legislation to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026 while enacting targeted, enforceable reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Making another stab at commonsense, reasonable governance, Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have offered bipartisan legislation to break the impasse that has led to the longest government shutdown, caused extraordinary difficulty for Homeland Security federal workers, for travelers, left the country vulnerable after climate disaster and emergencies and exposed the nation to terror attacks at a time of war. House Speaker Mike Johnson, doing Trump’s bidding, refused to take up the compromise bill that was passed by the Senate by unanimous consent, prolonging the national misery, while Trump tried to make himself the White Knight by paying TSA (but not the others). The Coast Guard, FEMA, and counter-terrorism agents remain unpaid after more than 40 days  – Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) unveiled their Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act, bipartisan legislation to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026 while enacting targeted, enforceable reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The legislation comes after weeks of deadlock in Washington over immigration enforcement, during which no serious proposal emerged that both kept DHS fully funded and delivered real ICE reform. 

The Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act meets both imperatives: fully funding DHS while bringing ICE in line with the standards of every other law enforcement agency in the United States. 

“Government should never be brought to a standstill—certainly not when homeland security is on the line and the consequences are borne by TSA agents, Coast Guard servicemembers, FEMA personnel, frontline DHS employees, and the American people. This debate began with a legitimate call for real ICE reform, yet after weeks of political deadlock, no serious solution emerged. The right course was clear from the start: keep the Department of Homeland Security fully funded and confront the problem before us with real reform. That is precisely what this bill does. It is time to do what should have been done from the beginning: govern, reform, and protect,” said Fitzpatrick.

“The American people are fed up. The chaos at our airports was awful, the Department of Homeland Security has not been fully funded during these very dangerous times, and the people are demanding that ICE live up to the standards of all other federal law enforcement. They are sick and tired of the endless blame game and they are demanding that we work together to solve the very real problems we face,” said Suozzi. “This legislation cuts through the dysfunction. It’s rooted in common sense; let’s fund DHS, keep our country safe, and hammer out real reforms of ICE.”

Drawing on Fitzpatrick’s more than 15 years as an FBI Special Agent and Suozzi’s experience overseeing the nation’s 11th largest police department as Nassau County Executive, the legislation was developed with direct input from federal law enforcement officials and in consultation with Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus and Senate partners, including the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

The Reforming ICE and Protecting America Act would:

  • Fully fund DHS for FY26 and keep the Department operational across its core security, disaster response, and public safety missions.
  • Bring ICE in line with standardized law enforcement policies through body cameras, a limitation on masks, visible identification, standardized uniforms and training, and independent investigations of officer-involved shootings. 
  • Focus enforcement where it belongs—on violent offenders and the most serious threats to public safety. 
  • Protect due process and prevent abuse through probable-cause and warrant requirements in key enforcement contexts, including protections against the knowing detention of U.S. citizens without probable cause.
  • Establish clear guardrails for sensitive locations by limiting civil immigration enforcement at schools, health care facilities, places of worship, polling places on election day, childcare facilities, and private home residences absent a warrant, except in exigent circumstances.
  • Protect law enforcement personnel and their families by strengthening penalties for doxxing and expanding protections for sensitive personal information.
  • Ensures CBP remains focused on its intended mission: securing the border.

Last week, Fitzpatrick and Suozzi announced they were developing a bipartisan path to fully fund DHS while advancing real ICE reform. The bill introduced today is the product of that effort.

Watch the Congressmen talk about their efforts here and here.