NY Governor Defends Policies Amidst Migrant Crime Controversy
Governor Hochul dismisses criticism that state bail and sanctuary laws enable repeat offenses by migrants, highlighting ongoing public safety efforts.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has pushed back against criticism that the state's bail and sanctuary laws contribute to migrants re-offending after being released from custody. The criticism comes in the wake of two recent cases involving migrants arrested for alleged crimes, with Republicans arguing that the laws allow repeat offenders to remain free.
Hochul stated that New York law does not prohibit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and that the state's laws do not offer sanctuary to criminals. "Our laws do not allow for criminals to have sanctuary and anything to the contrary is a mischaracterization of New York State law," Hochul said during a campaign event.
Critics, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and U.S. Representative Mike Lawler, have pointed to specific incidents to illustrate their concerns. They cite the case of Juan Guillermo Guambana Ayora, 50, who was arrested on October 1 in Ossining for allegedly filming women in a bathroom. According to Homeland Security, Guambana had a prior assault conviction in 2003 and had previously sought refuge in a church to avoid deportation in 2018. He was apprehended by ICE in December 2020 and again attempting to re-enter the U.S. in May 2021, after which he was released. Guambana faces six felony counts of unlawful surveillance but was released without bail, with his next court date set for November 5.
Another case highlighted involves Diego Rodriguez-Ordonez, 24, who was arrested twice in 18 hours in Putnam County. The second arrest, on September 29, was for alleged sexual abuse on a Metro North train. The day prior, he was arrested for attempted robbery of a gas station. Despite eight previous convictions across 17 arrests, he was released with an ankle monitor on the initial charges before the second arrest. Rodriguez-Ordonez is currently being held in Putnam County Jail.
Blakeman and Lawler argue that these instances demonstrate the failure of New York's current policies, particularly the bail reform laws and sanctuary policies enacted earlier this year. They claim these laws prevent timely immigration enforcement and allow judges to repeatedly release migrant suspects.
Blakeman, who is also the Nassau County Executive, accused Hochul of lying about the effectiveness of her administration's approach, asserting that under previous agreements with ICE, Nassau County had removed 2,000 migrants with criminal records. Lawler criticized the Democratic party for deeming certain crimes too minor to warrant swift immigration action and consequences.
The Gormans, parents of Sheridan Gorman whose daughter was allegedly killed by a migrant in Chicago, spoke at the Republican press conference, urging Hochul to consider the victims' perspectives. "What if that woman was your child? Would 17 arrests by a man who hurt her or sexually assaulted her, would 17 arrests have been enough for you?," Jessica Gorman asked.
Hochul's office responded to the criticism by stating that local police departments had the authority to contact federal authorities in both the Guambana and Rodriguez-Ordonez cases. A spokesperson for the governor emphasized that public safety is the top priority and that the governor has supported measures to strengthen bail laws and give judges more discretion in holding dangerous repeat offenders. "The Governor has been clear: New York is not and never will be a sanctuary for violent criminals, and anyone who breaks the law must be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," the statement read.
Local law enforcement officials have also voiced concerns. Cattaraugus County Sheriff Eric Butler criticized Hochul's policies as an "insult to every New Yorker who expects government to put their safety first," questioning how many more people must be harmed before the laws are changed. Sheriffs Butler and Fred Akshar of Broome County are suing Hochul over the "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act," which prohibits cooperative arrangements between municipalities and ICE. Akshar stated that "Out-of-touch politicians in Albany turned the justice system into a revolving door for violent criminals and new victims are created every day."