Tedisco: End New York’s “Sanctuary State of Danger” By Passing “Laken’s Law”

Albany--Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) today is calling for passage of new legislation he is sponsoring, “Laken’s Law,” to end New York’s dangerous “sanctuary state” policy and enable law enforcement to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).

“Laken’s Law” is named after the tragic murder last week of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley allegedly by a Venezuelan migrant who was in our country illegally and was arrested in New York City August 31, 2023 for felony child endangerment and a motor vehicle license violation and then released before ICE could request local police hold him in custody.

In 2017, former Governor Cuomo signed Executive Order 170, which effectively designated New York as a sanctuary state and tied the hands of law enforcement when it comes to cooperating with federal ICE agents. Governor Hochul has the legal power to rescind this order, but has not, and has taken no action to address the massive influx of those here illegally into New York City, many of whom Mayor Adams and the city have put on busses and shipped Upstate, including to the Capital Region, like pawns on a chessboard.

The legislation Senator Tedisco is sponsoring, S.8533/A.9167, requires law enforcement and courts to notify ICE when an arrested person or defendant is not a U.S. citizen. The bill is prime-sponsored by Senator Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island).  

“If the Governor’s sanctuary state executive order was not in place, it’s possible that Laken Riley could still be alive because the illegal migrant who allegedly brutally murdered her may have been in custody here in New York State where he was arrested last August.  There’s no question that New York’s sanctuary state policies have been a disaster for our state both fiscally and in terms of public safety,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.

 “This policy has not created a sanctuary state, it’s created a sanctuary state of danger for honest, law-abiding New Yorkers and those wonderful immigrants who want to live the American Dream and gain their citizenship the right way legally. If the President and the federal government won’t secure the border, then we need to untie the hands of law enforcement to protect our communities,” said Senator Tedisco.