Senator Gallivan Co-Sponsors Legislation to Allow Law Enforcement Cooperation with Federal Immigration Officials

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C, Elma) is co-sponsoring legislation aimed at stemming the unsustainable influx of migrants into New York State.  The bill (S.8533) would require law enforcement agencies and the courts to notify the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency when an arrested person or defendant is not a United States citizen, and reverse policies designed to make it difficult for state and local officials to assist federal authorities with enforcement of immigration law. 

In 2017, former Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Executive Order 170, which effectively designated New York as a sanctuary state and tied the hands of law enforcement when it came to cooperating with federal ICE agents. Governor Hochul, who could rescind this order, has taken no action to address the massive influx of immigrants into New York City and the state. 

“Until the federal government takes action to better control the migrant crisis, New York must ensure individuals who enter the country illegally or violate our laws are held accountable for their actions,” Senator Gallivan said.  “This bill allows our courts and police to notify and work with federal authorities, including ICE, to get these dangerous people off our streets.”

The legislation would also reinstate the maximum sentence of 365 days for a class A misdemeanor and would repeal the “protect our courts act” of 2020 which was designed to discourage cooperation and enforcement of federal immigration laws.

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