Members of the bipartisan Common Sense Caucus of Brooklyn and Queens are calling for Gov. Kathy Hochul to remove the sanctuary city status of New York City via executive order, citing a recently thwarted terror plot against Brooklyn synagogues as a reason to enforce a stricter border policy.
The letter signed by Republicans Bob Holden and Ina Vernikov, as well as Democrats Kalman Yeger and Susan Zhuang, claim that NYPD is unable to share criminal history or migration status with ICE agents under current sanctuary city statutes.
"It’s been clear for quite some time that our sanctuary status has directly led to decreased safety in NYC, and residents are suffering greatly for it. Gov. Hochul has the power to turn the tide of the migrant crisis with the stroke of a pen. We implore her to do what’s right for the people and to allow the local law enforcement agencies to comply with ICE so we can deport unvetted bad actors who commit crimes,” said Council Member Vernikov.
"We are not against migrants, we are migrants ourselves, but the services have to be there to support people and right now we are at capacity and we are seeing the frustration that is causing in our communities," said Council Member Zhuang
"We have cited ICE, NYPD, all of the top brass saying this policy of lack of communication is dangerous, and we want our governor to listen and respond to this," said Council Member Holden.