Hochul Defends NY Immigration Policies, Slams Federal Inaction in Congressional Testimony
Appearing before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, New York Governor Kathy Hochul delivered a firm defense of her state’s immigration policies while issuing a pointed call for comprehensive federal immigration reform. Hochul’s testimony addressed both the humanitarian response to the migrant crisis and her administration’s coordination with federal agencies in criminal enforcement.
Citing New York’s centuries-long legacy as a gateway for immigrants, Hochul described the recent influx of more than 220,000 migrants to New York City as a federal failure that has placed disproportionate burdens on states and municipalities. In response, she said, her administration deployed 2,000 National Guard members and opened over 200 emergency shelters to prevent a parallel crisis of mass street homelessness. “We have responded to this crisis with both compassion and pragmatism,” she stated, emphasizing that most migrants want to work—not rely on aid—and that the continued lack of federal work authorization is prolonging an unnecessary crisis.
“We have over 400,000 job openings in New York,” Hochul said, pointing to vacancies in agriculture, health care, and hospitality. “Let them work. Let them contribute. Let them chase the American dream—just like my grandparents did.”
Hochul rejected claims that New York is a so-called “sanctuary” jurisdiction in the sense of ignoring criminal activity. She described extensive cooperation with ICE, CBP, and Homeland Security Investigations in active criminal cases, including the transfer of over 1,300 non-citizen incarcerated individuals to ICE custody under her administration. “We will not harbor those who commit crimes,” she said, while stressing that New York does not, and cannot, use state police to enforce civil immigration violations.
Addressing criticism of New York’s Green Light Law—which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses—Hochul defended it as a proven public safety measure. “Licensed and insured drivers make our roads safer. This law reduces hit-and-runs and protects all travelers,” she said, adding that similar laws exist in 19 states.
A focal point of Hochul’s testimony was a recent ICE raid in rural Sackets Harbor that resulted in the mistaken detention of a mother and her three children, none of whom were the operation’s intended targets. “This was not just a policy failure—it was cruelty,” Hochul said, describing the bipartisan outrage from the local community. “Even in a county that voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, people saw that this was wrong.”
On crime, Hochul pushed back on narratives linking immigration to rising violence. She highlighted data showing a dramatic drop in crime since she took office in 2021, with New York City posting a 41% decline in murders and a 54% drop in shootings. “We’ve made our state safer not through mass deportations, but through data-driven policing and coordination across agencies.”
Concluding her testimony, Hochul reflected on her immigrant family roots and framed the current policy debate as a test of American values. “Immigrants helped build New York. They are part of our past, our present, and our future,” she said. “We face a choice: protect public safety while honoring our values—or give in to fear and cruelty. I choose the former.”