NYC council members seek to roll back sanctuary city measures

LAUREN TAYLOR:

A BI-PARTISAN DUO OF NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PLANNING TO INTRODUCE A BILL THIS WEEK – TO ROLL BACK SO-CALLED SANCTUARY CITY MEASURES – APPROVED YEARS AGO UNDER FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO’S ADMINISTRATION.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ROBERT HOLDEN – A DEMOCRAT FROM QUEENS AND JOE BORELLI – A REPUBLICAN FROM STATEN ISLAND – HAVE CRITICIZED NEW YORK’S IMMIGRATION LAWS AS THE CITY HAS DEALT WITH AN INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES LIMIT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT’S COOPERATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW..

PROPONENTS SAY THESE LOCAL MEASURES PROTECT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND ENSURE THEY FEEL SAFE TO USE CITY SERVICES WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING REPORTED TO IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.

HOLDEN AND BORELLI ARE LOOKING TO REPEAL SOME SANCTUARY CITY LAWS ON NEW YORK CITY’S BOOKS, INCLUDING THE BAN ON THE N.Y.P.D. AND CORRECTIONS PROBATION DEPARTMENT FROM COOPERATING WITH IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS..

WE REACHED OUT TO COUNCILMEMBERS HOLDEN AND BORELLI.

HOLDEN’S OFFICE RESPONDED AND SAID THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSAL “is to enhance public safety by ensuring that individuals who have committed serious crimes are not shielded from federal immigration authorities.”

OVER THE WEEKEND – INVESTIGATORS SAY A 19-YEAR-OLD VENEZUELAN MIGRANT ON A MOPED SHOT AT NYPD OFFICERS WHO WERE INVESTIGATING A ROBBERY PATTERN IN QUEENS.

TWO OFFICERS WERE SHOT AND RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL. BOTH HAVE SINCE BEEN RELEASED.

POLICE RECOVERED AN ILLEGAL GUN FROM THE SCENE.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS AND POLICE SPOKE ABOUT THE ORDEAL AT A NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS:

“THIS IS A BULLET HOLE. BECAUSE OF THIS VEST, A YOUNG POLICE OFFICER IS GOING HOME. A SENSELESS ACT OF VIOLENCE. TOTAL DISREGARD FOR LIFE. OUR OFFICERS RESPONDED WITH A LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE, A LEVEL OF FOCUS, A LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, AND TODAY WE THANK GOD.”

LAUREN TAYLOR:

THE SUSPECT IN THIS CASE IS BERNARDO RAUL CASTRO MATO.
INVESTIGATORS SAY HE’S A MIGRANT WHO ENTERED THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY THROUGH EAGLE PASS, TEXAS IN JULY 2023.

POLICE BELIEVE HE’S BEEN INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS CRIMES INCLUDING SHOOTINGS, ROBBERIES AND PHONE SNATCHES.

POLICE SAY HE’S ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTACKING A WOMAN, STEALING HER CREDIT CARD AND USING IT AT A CONVENIENCE STORE.

MATO WAS LIVING AT A FORMER HOTEL – CONVERTED INTO A MIGRANT SHELTER. HE’S BEING TREATED AT A HOSPITAL FOR A BULLET WOUND AND HE’S EXPECTED TO SURVIVE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOLDEN SAYS IT’S INCIDENTS LIKE THIS ONE THAT HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR CHANGE AS SANCTUARY CITY LAWS PREVENT COOPERATION WITH ICE – EVEN IN CASES INVOLVING SERIOUS CRIMES.

ROBERT HOLDEN:
“BY ROLLING BACK THESE LAWS, WE CAN PREVENT SIMILAR OCCURRENCES AND ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF OUR OFFICERS AND RESIDENTS. THE PROPOSAL IS DESIGNED TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENSURE THAT OUR CITY DOES NOT BECOME A SAFE HAVEN FOR THOSE WHO THREATEN OUR COMMUNITY.” HOLDEN’S OFFICE SAID IN A STATEMENT.

LAUREN TAYLOR:

HOLDEN SAYS HE KNOWS HIS PROPOSED LAW WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY MANY NEW YORKERS BUT HE’S EXPECTING IT TO FACE OPPOSITION FROM THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN MAINTAINING THE CURRENT SET OF POLICIES.

ROBERT HOLDEN:
“We have enough criminals in this city; we don’t need to import more and protect them as well. Repealing the laws that have created a sanctuary city status is common sense. Those who are wanted for heinous crimes back home or commit crimes in our country should be deported without hesitation. We aim to end this reckless social experiment once and for all.”

LAUREN TAYLOR:
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