Trump to Criticize Hochul on Immigration at Syracuse Rally
Former President set to address immigration policies following recent violent incidents involving undocumented immigrants in New York.
President Donald Trump is slated to criticize New York Governor Kathy Hochul's immigration policies during a rally in Syracuse on Friday. The event, held with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, comes in the wake of two recent violent incidents involving individuals who are alleged to be undocumented immigrants.
Last week, an off-duty New York Police Department detective was allegedly stabbed in the Bronx by two individuals identified as D’Angelo Caraballo and Sneider Mejia Bautista, both Dominican nationals. The suspects were apprehended in Lynn, Massachusetts. According to reports, Caraballo had prior arrests for charges including reckless driving and criminal possession of a loaded firearm, and was released by local police. Bautista also had previous arrests for offenses like grand larceny and weapons possession, but was reportedly released after the NYPD declined to enforce an ICE detainer.
On Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shot and wounded Oscar Belgal in the Bronx. Belgal, 28, is suspected of gang affiliation with the Trinitarios gang and has a criminal record including grand larceny and multiple arrests for assault, robbery, and weapons possession. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Belgal was arrested by the NYPD in December 2023 but released shortly after due to sanctuary policies.
Governor Hochul has previously enacted policies limiting cooperation with ICE on civil immigration matters, such as the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act signed in August. Following the Belgal shooting, Hochul expressed outrage and called for a halt to ICE enforcement operations in New York, requesting the release of any body camera footage.
Blakeman, Hochul's opponent in the gubernatorial race, has vowed to sign an executive order mandating cooperation with ICE if elected. He has criticized Hochul's administration for what he describes as policies that prevent law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
The rally in Syracuse is also expected to support Republican House candidate Kailee Buller. Ahead of the rally, the Trump campaign has pointed to several arrests of alleged undocumented immigrants in Syracuse for various crimes, including sex offenses and assault.