Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Queens lawmakers have referred to as for instant passage of the NY for All Act, which might restrict native cooperation with ICE.
REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez has led 9 members of New York’s Congressional delegation in a name for the New York state legislature to instantly move the New York for All Act, which might largely prohibit state and native regulation enforcement from working with federal immigration authorities comparable to ICE.
Velázquez and 9 different New York congressional Democrats despatched a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Chief Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Meeting Speaker Carl Heastie on Tuesday urging the state legislature to move New York for All earlier than the summer time recess.
The State Senate is scheduled to recess on Thursday, June 12, whereas the Meeting will recess 5 days in a while June 17.
Queens lawmakers together with U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng have joined Velázquez in signing the letter.
In the meantime, quite a few Queens-based state senators and meeting members have not too long ago referred to as on the state legislature to move the New York for All Act, together with State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Meeting Members Claire Valdez and Jessica González-Rojas.
New York for All would stop regulation enforcement, probation employees, state staff, municipal officers and county correctional officers from utilizing public state sources for immigration enforcement. It might additionally require that ICE provide a judicial warrant so as to get assistance on immigration points from native police or different officers.
ICE officers would even be prevented from accessing private areas of presidency property and not using a warrant, whereas state our bodies would usually be prohibited from sharing a person’s immigration standing with federal immigration authorities.
An ICE agent speaks to individuals lined as much as enter the U.S. Immigration Court docket, in Manhattan, New York Metropolis, U.S., June 5, 2025.REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado
Advocates state that the laws is important so as to defend immigrant communities from immigration enforcement. They additional state that the laws will permit undocumented residents to stay open lives, take part of their communities, present for his or her household, and entry well being care with out intimidation.
New York for All doesn’t prohibit cooperation with immigration authorities on legal investigations.
Members of New York’s Congressional delegation have referred to as on the state legislature to move the laws earlier than the summer time recess.
“As members of New York’s Congressional Delegation, we believe that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, must be able to participate in their communities, provide for their families, and access critical support without intimidation,” Congressional Democrats mentioned within the letter.
The letter, which was additionally signed by U.S. Reps Jerry Nadler, George Latimer, Paul Tonko, Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat and Ritchie Torres, acknowledged that the “onslaught of attacks” on immigrant communities throughout the nation intensifies the necessity for the New York for All Act.
For the reason that begin of this federal administration, the President has unleashed chaos and cruelty on immigrants, tearing households aside, disappearing individuals, utilizing political repression ways, anddisregarding court docket orders with impunity,” Democrats mentioned within the letter.
“Among those targeted are people with and without immigration status, long time green card holders and even U.S. citizens. These unprecedented attacks on New Yorkers create chaos and fear, putting all our safety at risk.”
Lawmakers wrote that they can not “stand idly by” whereas constituents are focused by the Trump Administration’s “mass deportation dragnet.”
“New York must be clear that it will establish critical guardrails to prevent local and state resources from being used for Trump’s mass deportation agenda and that our local and state agencies will not conspire with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). NY4All ensures just that.”
The Congressional Democrats wrote that the laws will assist defend due course of in New York State sources should not used to facilitate “inhumane family separation.” They additional contended that the laws will permit all New Yorkers to take part brazenly of their communities.
Lawmakers additionally famous that the laws is not going to stop ICE from implementing immigration regulation, writing that it additionally doesn’t restrict native police from implementing legal regulation. They contended that comparable statewide legal guidelines or insurance policies have succeeded in Oregon, Illinois, California, New Jersey and Washington.
“We urge the New York State Legislature to reject Trump’s efforts to scapegoat our most vulnerable neighbors as a pretense for dismantling our core democratic institutions.”
Linda Flor Brito, Senior Coverage and Campaigns Organizer with the Immigrant Protection Challenge, additionally referred to as on the state legislature to move the laws instantly.
“ICE entanglement with state and local agencies enables the separation of families, and further perpetuates a cruel double punishment of New Yorkers who are funneled from state prison sentences to ICE,” Flor Brito mentioned in an announcement.
Zach Ahmad, Senior Coverage Counsel on the New York Civil Liberties Union, mentioned the Trump Administration is “wreaking havoc” on New York’s immigrant communities and mentioned the laws would assist all New Yorkers really feel secure and guarded.
“Between raiding workplaces, detaining children, and busting down people’s doors without a warrant, this anti-immigrant administration is hellbent on terrorizing New York’s immigrant communities,” Ahmad mentioned in an announcement.
