On March 12th, U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan visited Albany where he strongly criticized New York’s sanctuary laws and warned Governor Kathy Hochul against obstructing federal immigration enforcement. Standing with Albany Republicans, Homan declared that if the state does not cooperate, the federal government would deploy additional ICE agents to New York to enforce immigration laws. He also praised New York City Mayor Eric Adams for his willingness to work with federal officials.
Homan specifically condemned New York’s Green Light Law, which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses while restricting ICE access to state Department of Motor Vehicles records. He argued that such policies put law enforcement officers at risk by preventing access to crucial data. Homan also expressed support for Republican-led legislative efforts in Albany, including the proposed Laken’s Law which seeks to override sanctuary city policies and mandate cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
During his remarks, Homan defended Mayor Adams, stating that the mayor has been making “great commitments” to improving cooperation on immigration enforcement. Adams and Homan have met multiple times, including discussions about reopening an ICE office at Rikers Island. Homan denied any connection between Adams’ cooperation and the Department of Justice’s recent decision to drop a corruption investigation against him, dismissing allegations of a “quid pro quo” arrangement.
Governor Hochul has attempted to impose restrictions on Adams’ ability to work with ICE, a move that Homan denounced. He accused Hochul of failing to back her own promises to support the deportation of undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. He referenced high-profile criminal cases involving undocumented immigrants to highlight what he described as failures in New York’s immigration policies. Despite her past remarks about border security, Hochul has resisted Republican-led immigration crackdowns, a stance that has put her at odds with federal officials.
Homan did not request a meeting with Hochul during his Albany visit, stating, “She knows my number.” Hochul was not in Albany at the time, as she was attending a funeral for Hazel Dukes, the President of the NAACP. Her office later responded, rejecting Homan’s statements and reiterating her commitment to both secure borders and humane immigration policies. Her spokesperson accused Trump administration officials of distorting New York’s immigration stance for political gain.
Homan’s visit was met with opposition from Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocacy groups, who protested his call for stricter immigration enforcement. As tensions rise over sanctuary laws, New York remains at the center of the national immigration debate, with federal officials signaling increased action if state leaders do not cooperate.
