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Border czar Tom Homan's visit to New York highlights divide on deportations - Newsday

Published 2 days ago4 minute read

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ALBANY — A Trump official sought to take the immigration fight to Albany Wednesday and was met with loud opposition in the state Capitol hallways by activists and some Democrats.

Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's border czar, rallied with Republicans at the Capitol, demanding that Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democrat-led State Legislature cooperate with his officers seeking to execute deportations.

He threatened to boost federal law-enforcement ranks in New York to deport immigrants who crossed into the country illegally and were accused of crimes.

"New York State, you got to change your sanctuary status," Homan said at a Republican news conference. "If you don’t, [then] get out the way because we’re going to do our job." Later, he added: "We’ll double the man-force if we have to."

Democrats and activists countered Homan with loud rallies and news conferences of their own — shouting "No hate, no fear" — just down the hall from where the Trump official, who grew up in West Carthage, not far from the Canadian border, was warmly received by Republicans.

They accused the president of fearmongering and scapegoating immigrants because, in part, he’s failing on consumer prices. They also said his policies are hurting small businesses, farmers and farmworkers in sectors where foreign labor is vital.

"They are about sowing fear. I don’t see them going into white neighborhoods seeking undocumented immigrants," Assemb. Tony Simone (D-Manhattan) said. He said Trump’s immigration focus was partly about the volatile economy since taking office: "He’s scared about consumer prices and he’s doing nothing about it."

With Democrats outnumbering Republicans 2-1 in the State Legislature, the GOP has little leverage to enact laws in New York but relies on public pressure to get policy changes or persuade voters.

The Republicans want New York City to end its status as a "sanctuary city" — limiting or denying cooperation with federal officials on deportation or other immigration issues. For instance, allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers access to courtrooms and court records where an immigrant might be facing local charges and, as such, might be subject to deportation.

They also want the state to reverse the Green Light Law, which allows all New Yorkers ages 16 and older, regardless of citizenship status, to apply for a driver’s licenses.

Rank-and-file Republicans sought to piggyback on Homan’s message.

"Sanctuary cities are out of step with what everyday New Yorkers want," Assemb. Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville) said.

Asked to expand, Gandolfo said: "The immigration issue, specifically the sanctuary city issue, we’ve noticed in polling it is cutting across party lines. We’ve seen in the last election immigration was really pinging as a top issue for a lot of New Yorkers. And I do firmly believe that the average New Yorker, whether on Long Island, in New York City or upstate, don’t like seeing sanctuary laws protecting people who are here illegally and are committing crimes."

At a separate rally, Assemb. Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens) accused Trump of promoting a "hateful, nasty racist agenda." Assemb. Robert Carroll (D-Manhattan) called it "rank McCarthyism," referring to the 1950s Red Scare. Others said small businesses will be casualties in the political fight.

"Our farmers, right now, are suffering. Our small businesses, right now, are suffering," Assemb. Karina Reyes (D-Bronx) said. "Let’s be clear: This isn’t about public safety. This is a fascist agenda."

Gandolfo called the focus on business "a deflection."

"What we’re talking about today, and what we’re continuing to talk about, as the federal government has repeatedly said they’re focused on right now, is apprehending those who are here illegally and are committing crimes," he said. "I don’t know if that population spills over into farmworkers and I don’t necessarily believe that it does. Tom Homan said today and was very clear that the administration is prioritizing illegals who have criminal records."

Homan said he’s not spoken to Hochul about the issues. But he said he was meeting with Mayor Eric Adams on immigration issues. He pushed back on some Democrats’ claims the Trump administration moved to dismiss a federal bribery and corruption indictment against Adams in exchange of cooperation on deportations.

"I don’t know anything about" the Adams investigation, Homan said, adding about his talks with the mayor: "We’re working on some things."

Yancey Roy

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