NYS lawmakers OK budget bill that would limit cooperation with ICE

ALBANY — The State Legislature approved a bill Thursday that would prohibit counties from signing cooperation agreements with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, despite retaliation threats from the Trump administration.

Technically, the Assembly and State Senate forged ahead on a state budget by passing the "public protection and general government” bill that typically contains routine fare concerning state troopers, insurance, lobbying and motor vehicles. This year, it contains provisions ranging from cracking down on 3D-printed guns to limiting ICE enforcement actions in New York, as Democrats who control the Legislature followed through on earlier promises to act.

It sparked a nearly five-hour debate in the Assembly and nearly as long in the Senate. In the end, the Senate approved the bill, 39-22, and the Assembly, 93-47, along party lines and with some absences.

“I’m really proud of everything that we are doing to try to protect New Yorkers from draconian immigration enforcement today,” Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn) said ahead of the vote.

Republicans were not as enthusiastic.

“I think we are moving backward in terms of public safety and handcuffing law enforcement,” said Assemb. Jarret Gandolfo (R-Sayville) while debating the bill in the other house.

New York lawmakers and others around the country have been stepping up criticism of ICE as it's operated under President Donald Trump, especially after agents killed Alex Pretti and Renée Good in Minnesota in January.

In response, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democrats in the State Legislature backed a series of measures, including prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks while carrying out enforcement actions and banning them from a range of “sensitive locations” that, in addition to schools and churches, would include daycare and senior centers and parks — unless agents have a judicial warrant.

The legislation also would establish a right to sue federal officers for constitutional violations.

And it would ban working pacts, known as 287(g) agreements between federal agents and counties, such as the one touted by Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running against Hochul for governor.

Several lawmakers noted the new law doesn’t prevent federal agents from enforcing criminal law — as opposed to civil immigration law.

Assemb. Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood) said critics say, "Why can't they follow the rules?" — referring to migrants not in the country legally. He paused, then added: "They fail to recognize the rules have never been the same for people of color."

New York lawmakers followed through on their promise to enact ICE legislation despite a threat from Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, to “flood” the state with federal agents if the state banned local cooperation with ICE.

“We’re not going to be threatened by bullies, and you know, Tom Homan can say whatever he wants,” said Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn).

The bill's gun provisions include requiring every 3D printer sold in the state to include technology blocking it from printing a firearm and outlawing “pistol converters” to allow handguns to fire like semiautomatics. Republicans predicted the provisions won't withstand legal scrutiny under the federal Second Amendment.

Said Assemb. Joe Angelino (R-Norwich): "It's never going to hold up because it's violating" the Constitution.

Newsday’s Keshia Clukey contributed to this story.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy