Hochul: No intentions to ‘allow’ ICE to ‘just take people off the streets’ in NY

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said she has no intentions to “allow” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “just take people off the streets.”

Hochul joined MSNBC’s Al Sharpton on Sunday, where she discussed her recent conversation with President Trump over ways they can work together on issues like congestion pricing, transportation and immigration.

“I reached out to the president again because there is so much I need to deliver for New York and New York City in particular,” she said. “I need to get Penn Station done and make sure we have money for the Second Avenue subway, which is so important.”

“I want to make sure that we have an understanding on immigration that says we’ll help you when you have serious, violent criminals you need to get off the streets,” Hochul continued. “I’ve always said that. We’ve done that under the Biden administration, but we’re not going to be there to allow you to just take people off the streets and split up families.”

Her remarks come as the Trump administration has ramped up deportations, including of hundreds of members of the Tren De Aragua gang over the weekend.

Hochul and Trump have clashed over the governor’s congestion traffic pricing program in New York City. It was aimed at reducing traffic in the city and bringing in money for other infrastructure through the toll. Trump said he would rescind the order and Hochul vowed to oppose the president in court.

The governor's clashes with Trump could help increase her national profile as she likely faces a competitive reelection battle.

Her spokesperson told The Hill that Hochul will continue to work to deliver results for New Yorkers and push back against “federal overreach.”

She initially was one of the Democrats who said she would look for places to work with Trump, but she postponed her meeting with the president over a legal challenge from the administration over immigration policies.

Hochul’s meeting with Trump on Friday was the rescheduled effort. She said they also spoke about the president’s tariff plan and how it is “devastating” for upstate farmers and factory workers.

“I need to keep that dialogue going,” she said about the meeting, later adding, “My willingness to talk about areas we could have a common interest does not take away from my responsibility as a leader of the state to fight back and fight back hard when the line is crossed and you’ve hurt New Yorkers.”