Lawmakers Must Call a Special Session to Protect Immigrant New Yorkers

Under President Trump’s orders, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is terrorizing communities across the state. ICE is striking fear into New Yorkers who worry they could be ripped away from their families and communities while simply going about their daily activities.

Yet, despite the growing terror and disruption caused by ICE activity, the New York Legislature failed to pass a single bill to protect immigrants and those at risk of deportation during this year’s state legislative session.

Legislators’ shameful inaction is a gift to Trump, who wants to conduct the largest mass deportations in American history.

But New York does not have to fall in line and do Trump’s bidding. There is a way for us to help protect our communities.

Trump knows that in order to achieve his inhumane deportation goals, he needs local governments to collude with ICE by acting as the agency’s ears and arms, sharing information and operating on its behalf.

New York legislators have the power to prevent this, but they can’t be afraid to act. They need to call a special session to pass a bill called the New York for All Act.

The New York for All Act

The New York for All Act is a piece of legislation in the state legislature that would protect immigrant families by ensuring local resources cannot be diverted to carry out ICE’s cruelty. The bill does this by prohibiting state and local officers from enforcing federal immigration laws and sharing sensitive information with ICE, and prohibiting ICE from entering non-public areas of state and local property – like schools – without a warrant from a judge.

The New York for All Act would help immigrant New Yorkers lead freer lives and care for their families. The law would also benefit all residents by preserving state and local resources for community safety.

Trump and his goons love to fearmonger about immigrants, but we know communities are safer when immigrants feel comfortable interacting with law enforcement. Research shows places that don’t collude with ICE experience less crime than communities that turn their officers into immigration agents.

Every New Yorker, regardless of immigration status, wants to live openly, participate in their community, provide for their family, and access health care without intimidation.

But President Trump’s mass deportation regime has sowed immense fear throughout the state.

Because of ICE’s pressure on local law enforcement, many immigrant New Yorkers live with the fear that any contact with government agencies – whether in a routine police traffic stop, attending school, or visiting a public hospital for care – could lead to being torn away from their families and the lives that they have built here.

Targeting immigrant communities for deportation is Trump’s priority, but it shouldn’t be New York’s. Lawmakers can keep our state out of ICE’s cruelty by calling a special session and passing the New York for All Act without delay.