The State Senate in New York last week passed a bill (S3698) to crack down on illegal-alien sanctuary cities. The measure requires the state to compile a list of the local governments that adopted policies that interfere with the enforcement of ICE detention requests for illegal aliens under arrest. If the policies are not changed, the entity would lose state funding.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Thomas Croci, said the legislation prohibits “local governments from defying federal laws put in place to protect public safety…The brutal killings in Brentwood by MS-13 have shocked the conscience of the nation. And 10 out of the 13 suspects arrested entered the United States illegally. According to the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there were 121 unique instances of illegal immigrants who had an active criminal case at the time of release and were subsequently charged with homicide-related offenses -- that’s more than one every two weeks...In light of the increased threats posed by ISIS and terrorists worldwide, we must be smart about those who would come to New York City to harm New Yorkers. We cannot afford to expose New Yorkers to harm for a misguided political ideology.”
Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, who helped usher in sanctuary policies in his city last year, said “It is unclear to me why the [state] Senate would propose and proceed with legislation that is in conflict with guidance provided by the [state] attorney general and why our representatives would support legislation that includes provisions meant to intimidate local governments and law-enforcement agencies,” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Gov. Andrew Cuomo both support sanctuary policies, and have been active in fighting back against the Trump Administration’s crackdown.
Although the measure passed the Republican-controlled Senate, it will probably will not clear the State Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats. Assemblyman Kevin Cahill from the Kingston area declared the bill “dead on arrival” in the Assembly.
