New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has accused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of overreach and attempting to exploit loopholes in the state's recently enacted sanctuary laws. Hochul expressed these concerns in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, demanding transparency regarding federal plans to expand detention facilities in upstate New York.
The governor is seeking information about a rumored lease on a warehouse in the Hudson Valley near Newburgh, as well as potential expansions of detention capacity at federal facilities in Rochester and Batavia. "New Yorkers, like all Americans, deserve honest answers about what their federal government is doing in their communities. And I demand your department provide that transparency," Hochul stated in the letter.
This development follows the passage of a comprehensive set of sanctuary policies earlier this year as part of the state budget, which included measures intended to prevent local governments from allowing ICE to use their detention facilities. Hochul has not definitively accused ICE of violating these specific policies, nor has she stated whether she plans to use the new law to challenge the federal government's actions. Earlier this month, Hochul and State Attorney General Letitia James reportedly pursued legal action to compel immigration officers to wear masks during enforcement operations.
Spokespersons for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security had not responded to requests for comment regarding Hochul's letter at the time of reporting. The letter was first reported by Politico on Monday morning.