New York, March 17, 2025 — New York Governor Kathy Hochul made it clear on Sunday that she does not plan to let Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “just take people off the streets” in her state.
Governor Hochul, a Democrat, appeared in an interview on MSNBC with Rev. Al Sharpton. During the conversation, she discussed her recent meeting with President Trump. The two leaders spoke about several important topics including traffic issues, transportation projects, and immigration policies.
Hochul shared that she reached out to President Trump because she needs strong support from the federal government to complete key projects in New York. She specifically mentioned two major projects that matter a lot to New Yorkers — the redevelopment of Penn Station and the Second Avenue Subway.
“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,” Hochul said. “I need to get Penn Station done and make sure we have money for the Second Avenue subway, which is so important.”
However, while she is willing to work with Trump on infrastructure, Hochul took a strong stand on immigration. She made it very clear that while she supports removing dangerous criminals from the streets, she will not support ICE detaining ordinary people or separating families.
“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 explained. “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.”
Tensions Over Deportations Rising
Hochul’s comments come at a time when the Trump administration has increased deportation efforts. Recently, ICE deported hundreds of suspected members of a dangerous gang known as Tren de Aragua.
Governor Hochul’s remarks seem to draw a clear line. She supports removing violent criminals but refuses to allow federal immigration officers to conduct widespread arrests that could lead to families being torn apart.
Clashes with Trump Over Congestion Pricing
The disagreement over ICE is not the first time Hochul and Trump have clashed. One of their recent major disagreements was over New York City’s congestion pricing plan.
The congestion pricing plan aimed to reduce traffic in the city by charging drivers toll fees in certain busy areas. The money collected from these tolls was intended to fund improvements in the city’s public transportation system, including subway upgrades.
However, Trump opposed this plan. He announced that he would cancel the congestion pricing program. In response, Hochul promised to challenge Trump’s decision in court. She stood firm, stating she would not let the federal government interfere with New York’s local policies.
Hochul’s Growing National Profile
These frequent face-offs with Trump may help boost Hochul’s image on the national stage. Many political experts believe she is preparing for a competitive re-election campaign, and standing up to Trump could work in her favor.
Hochul’s spokesperson also told The Hill that she remains focused on delivering results for New Yorkers and will continue to push back against what they called “federal overreach.”
Balancing Cooperation and Resistance
Interestingly, Hochul has tried to balance her relationship with Trump. She initially expressed interest in finding common ground with the president, particularly on projects that would benefit New York residents.
However, her willingness to collaborate hit a pause when Trump’s administration legally challenged New York’s immigration policies. Hochul postponed her initial meeting with Trump due to that legal challenge but later rescheduled it.
Last Friday, she finally met with the president to resume discussions. During this meeting, they not only spoke about immigration but also discussed Trump’s tariff plans. Hochul raised concerns that these tariffs could badly affect farmers and factory workers, especially in upstate New York.
“I need to keep that dialogue going,” Hochul stated about her meeting with Trump. She added, “My willingness to talk about areas where 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.”
Protecting New Yorkers: Hochul’s Key Message
At the heart of Hochul’s message is her commitment to protecting New Yorkers. Whether it is standing up for immigrant families, fighting harmful federal policies, or securing funds for transportation projects, she emphasizes that her focus is on the people of New York.
She made it clear that cooperation with the federal government does not mean she will allow policies that harm New Yorkers. Her goal is to balance working together when it benefits the state but resisting when federal decisions threaten her residents.
Conclusion
Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent comments highlight her firm stance on immigration and her readiness to stand up to the federal government when needed. She remains committed to projects like Penn Station and the Second Avenue Subway but draws a clear line when it comes to protecting families and opposing unnecessary deportations.
Her leadership shows a mix of cooperation and resistance, always with New Yorkers’ interests at the center.
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