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Governor Kathy Hochul met with White House Border Czar Tom Homan in Albany on Friday (March 6) to discuss immigration enforcement in New York. Hochul initiated the meeting to address her concerns over what she described as "aggressive and unlawful ICE operations" in the state. She emphasized New York's commitment to working with federal authorities to remove dangerous criminals but proposed legislation to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out of sensitive locations such as schools, healthcare facilities, and houses of worship.
Hochul provided Homan with a list of detained college students she is advocating for release, following the detention of a Columbia University student. She also expressed concerns about ICE's plans to open mass detention facilities in New York, which have faced bipartisan opposition. According to Politico, Hochul criticized the handling of a case involving a Rohingya man who died in Buffalo after being left by border patrol officers.
Homan's response to Hochul's concerns was not disclosed, but he has been vocal about plans to intensify enforcement in New York City. The meeting is part of Hochul's ongoing efforts to challenge the Trump administration's immigration policies. She has backed measures to limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities and proposed legislation to restrict ICE activities in New York.
The meeting followed Hochul's discussions with President Donald Trump and other officials at the National Governors Association gathering. Hochul, who is running for reelection, has been a vocal critic of ICE's tactics and has warned against a surge of federal immigration enforcement officers in New York. The meeting with Homan is seen as a continuation of her efforts to protect New Yorkers from aggressive immigration enforcement.