Staten Island Reporter

(NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) strongly criticized New York City for its lack of cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in dealing with illegal immigrants committing crimes in the city.

Malliotakis expressed her frustration, stating, "Despite our calls for the City Council and Mayor to restore cooperation with federal immigration officials, rogue prosecutors and far-left judges continue to release criminals residing in our country illegally back onto the street to the detriment of our community and citizens."

She emphasized the challenges faced by ICE due to various policies, saying, "In a post-9/11 world, we cannot afford to take any chances. Democrats' pro-criminal, open-border and sanctuary policies at the city, state and federal level have proven to have deadly consequences, and this is just one of many examples where they've come to a head to deteriorate quality of life and public safety for American citizens."

Background information revealed that last year, ICE issued 109 detainer requests to the NYPD, none of which were honored due to local laws passed under the de Blasio Administration that significantly limited New York City's cooperation with federal immigration officials. City officials have insisted on specific requirements for cooperation, leading to a lack of alignment with ICE procedures.

Efforts have been made to address these issues, with Malliotakis joining bipartisan officials in urging the City Council to repeal restrictive laws following attacks on NYPD officers. Additionally, she has supported legislation, such as The POLICE Act of 2023, which aims to make assaulting law enforcement officers a deportable offense.

The ongoing debate underscores the complex interplay between local and federal authorities in addressing immigration-related matters, with differing perspectives on the best approach to ensure public safety and security.