By Hank Russell
During his keynote speech at the Border Security Expo in Phoenix, Arizona on May 5, border czar Tom Homan said he intends to “flood the zone” with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, meaning he will bring ICE agents into New York State after Governor Kathy Hochul refused to enter into an agreement with ICE to allow agents to come into the state.
According to The Daily Signal, Homan — who served as acting director of ICE during the first Trump administration — singled out Hochul because she would not enter a 287(g) agreement with ICE. As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, Hochul proposed the prohibition of local governments, state and local police, and state and local corrections officers from entering 287(g) agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local resources to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes.
Last month, Hochul announced she is expanding a proposal on how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers interact with New Yorkers and how they conduct themselves, LILP previously reported. She said this would expand protections for New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, safeguard basic rights and hold federal immigration officials accountable.
“We’re going to flood the zone. You’re going to see more [ICE] agents than you’ve seen before,” Homan was quoted as saying by The Daily Signal. Referring to Hochul, he said, “You forced us into this position.”
LILP also previously reported that the governor’s proposal would prohibit state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public. This excludes tactical equipment, sunglasses, or medical masks from the definition of face covering. Willfully violating the statute would be a misdemeanor.
Homan said he wished the agents “didn’t have to wear” masks, “but because of the hateful rhetoric of members of the media and members of Congress and governors and mayors who don’t know what the f— they’re talking about, that’s necessary. Threats are up over 8,000%”
During a press conference about the Supreme Court’s decision on redistricting, Hochul said she got word that Homan would “[send] in a surge of ICE agents to the State of New York.”
“All I’ll say to Mr. Homan is that Donald Trump himself said he would not send a surge of ICE agents to the State of New York unless I ask,” Hochul said. “I’m not asking.”