New York Gov. Hochul says she will call on ICE to help “get rid of” migrants who commit crimes.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants immigrants who have committed crimes deported. Gov. Hochul made the remark when asked if New York was a sanctuary state, a question she declined to answer directly.

Hochul: “If there are other people who commit crimes or are known to be criminals before they get here, if they are identified, I will be the first to help get rid of them. I don’t want her here. I don’t want anyone terrorizing my citizens.”

Hochul is under pressure to strengthen protections for immigrants as President-elect Donald Trump continues to make plans for his mass deportation campaign. The Immigrant Defense Project called on Hochul to support a bill in the state legislature that would ban local law enforcement from working with, or as they put it, cooperating with, ICE.

Hochul also made it clear that she wants everyone with legal status to receive a work permit, including those with temporary legal status.

Hochul: I have 460,000 open positions in New York State. I want them to get the right work permit, I want them to keep their temporary protected status if they have one. I want to ensure that they contribute to society during their stay.

Hochul said the more than 220,000 migrants who have made their way to New York City since 2022 are here legally because many are applying for asylum and have pending cases. At least 58,000 of them live in city-funded accommodation. The city signed a three-year, $220 million deal with the Roosevelt Hotel in 2023 to rent out each of its 1,025 hotels for $210 a night.