Support for legislation that would expand protections for immigrants in New York has steadily grown as opposition to the actions of federal immigration agents has hit a fever pitch. The New York for All Act now counts the state Senate majority leader and a slew of congressional representatives as supporters. But even as she has backed two new measures meant to protect undocumented immigrants, Gov. Kathy Hochul still hasn’t indicated she will push for the increasingly popular legislation.
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins offered her support for the New York for All Act for the first time last week during her opening day remarks. Near the end of her floor speech, Stewart-Cousins said her conference was committed to “advancing the goals” of the legislation. The phrasing still hedged a little, but she used similar language when first expressing support for the “principles” of the Good Cause Eviction bill not long before it became the law of the land.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Stewart-Cousins said it was necessary to specifically mention the legislation “because of this moment.” She also suggested that Hochul would serve as a partner on the issue. “We have had conversations about it, and I think everybody is alarmed on some level about what is happening in our country,” Stewart-Cousins said.
But a spokesperson for the governor wouldn’t offer any hints as to where the governor may stand on the specific bill. “The Governor will review any piece of legislation that passes both houses of the Legislature,” spokesperson Kara Cumoletti said. She otherwise referred back to comments Hochul made on MSNOW about a measure allowing New Yorkers to sue Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for violating their civil rights. “I’m going to stand up to defend rights, at least what I can do in New York,” Hochul said last week.
NY1 reported Monday evening Hochul also plans to designate houses of worship, schools and hospitals as “sensitive locations” that ICE would need a judicial warrant to enter. The federal government previously recognized those locations as protected, but the Trump administration rolled back the guidance. “I will always do whatever it takes to protect New Yorkers when their safety is at risk,” the governor said in a statement to NY1. “That means also standing up for our immigrant communities as federal ICE agents storm into our neighborhoods and community centers without warrants.” But even that new policy wouldn’t go as far as the New York for All Act, which would codify protections that currently only exist through executive order or case law and prevent local law enforcement around the state from working with ICE.
While Hochul still has not taken a position on the bill, a number of congressional representatives have called on her to back it. Reps. Dan Goldman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nydia Velázquez, Grace Meng, Gregory Meeks, Adriano Espaillat, Yvette Clarke, Jerry Nadler and Paul Tonko all signed onto a letter to the governor encouraging her to support both New York for All and the Access to Representation Act, which would create the right to an attorney in immigration court. “While Congressional Democrats continue to pursue federal solutions to fight back against the Trump administration, states remain an essential backstop when our fundamental rights and democratic institutions are under strain,” the representatives wrote in the letter, which was also addressed to state legislative leaders. “We respectfully urge you to pass these bills and sign them into law as soon as possible.”