Congressman Mike Lawler issued a strong rebuke of a proposed Rockland County bill this week that would limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, saying it could threaten public safety in the county.
In response to reporting by the New York Post — entitled “NY suburb rushes law blocking cooperation with ICE as Rep. Lawler accuses Dem pol of ‘sacrificing safety’” — Lawler’s campaign criticized Democratic legislators, including congressional candidate Beth Davidson, for backing the “Immigrant Protection Act,” legislation that would restrict collaboration between county officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to campaign statements and county records, the proposal is modeled after sanctuary-style laws passed in other jurisdictions. If enacted, Rockland County employees and law enforcement would face significant limitations on working with federal immigration authorities, including barring proactive cooperation with ICE and prohibiting the honoring of immigration detainers — even for individuals with prior criminal histories. Critics say the changes could hamper efforts to detain and remove individuals wanted by federal officials.
“Beth Davidson’s public push to have Rockland County adopt the same radical ‘sanctuary’ policies … can be summed up in one sentence: Beth Davidson is willing to sacrifice the safety of Rockland County residents for the support of far-left radical Democrats,” Lawler said in a campaign statement.
Lawler also pointed to recent local incidents to underscore his argument, saying the Hudson Valley has “seen firsthand the consequences of sanctuary policies” in recent years.
Earlier this week in a New York Times op-ed, Lawler warned that sanctuary policies — which restrict cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agencies — undermine public safety and exacerbate challenges within the nation’s immigration system. He reiterated his support for bipartisan immigration reform focused on securing the border, restoring cooperation between law enforcement levels, and treating migrants humanely while maintaining the rule of law.
“Rockland families deserve leaders who prioritize public safety, the rule of law, and accountability,” Lawler said, calling on every member of the Rockland County Legislature to publicly state their position on the proposal.
The “Immigrant Protection Act” has not yet been finalized and is expected to undergo further debate in the Legislature.
Mike, you better get on this stuff, if they do this in Rockland County the county will fall apart. I’m not saying they should go out and grab people out of their houses or anything like that that are just here illegally but not a criminal if that makes sense. But when they have a criminal, they should get him the heck out of Rockland County ASAP and send them back to where they came from. Please get on this big time.
Mike go strong on this! Criminals OUT!!
MAGAMike stop with this nonsense. The proposed plan is to stop the lawlessness that ICE is committing that we all see, while MAGAMike can’t stand up for decency and ask ICE to stop it he goes on wants to bring this lawlessness to Rockland County.
Baloney No sanctuary for illegals period. Send the criminals home and give the law-abiding normal ones from 20 y ago who have established a life here a path to citizenship. Plus anyone who came in on Biden’s dime goes out – they have no roots here.
I think this is common sense to block such policy, the consequences of the “Immigrant Protection Act” has costed two lives in Minneapolis recently.
Beth Davidson is trying to score some points with her dem colleagues. I say Mike should make this a top priority.
Why protect criminal illegal aliens from being deported? People who rob and drive drunk and deal drugs and who knows what else? How does that make our county safer or better? It doesn’t. Compassion for the wicked results in cruelty towards the good.