Gavin Howe
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul faced criticism from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for failing to recall details of high-profile crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants during a House hearing. Stefanik highlighted Hochul's extension of an executive order that prevents state officers or employees from disclosing information to federal immigration authorities, which she claimed resulted in a failure to protect law-abiding New Yorkers. This debate reflects the ongoing tension between federal and state authorities regarding immigration enforcement and the characterization of immigrants as illegals in New York City.
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What You'll Learn
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unable to recall crimes committed by illegal immigrants
- Rep. Elise Stefanik accused Gov. Hochul of putting illegals first
- Hochul extended an executive order three times, blocking state officers from disclosing information to federal immigration authorities
- ICE issued an order to detain a violent criminal, but it was rejected by New York officials
- The Trump administration has threatened to withhold funding from jurisdictions that obstruct deportation efforts
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unable to recall crimes committed by illegal immigrants
During a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary policies and high-profile cases of illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes, New York Governor Kathy Hochul could not recall the details of several high-profile cases involving illegal immigrants charged with violent offences in her home state. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., highlighted how Hochul extended an executive order, protecting illegal immigrants, three times, most recently on 16 January 2025.
Stefanik proceeded to name the victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants who should have been detained but were not due to Hochul's policies. One such case was that of Sakir Akkan, a 21-year-old illegal immigrant from Turkey who pleaded guilty to forcing a 15-year-old girl into his car and raping her in May 2024. Another case was that of Sebastian Zepeda-Khalil, an illegal immigrant who set a sleeping woman on fire on the subway.
Stefanik accused Hochul of putting "illegals first" and not standing up for law-abiding New Yorkers. She argued that Hochul's continuation of an executive order making New York a sanctuary state is to blame for these horrific crimes. In response, Hochul claimed that Stefanik was trying to create a viral moment and that her representation of the facts was "absolutely false". She also stated that the state does cooperate with federal law enforcement on criminal matters.
Despite these assurances, Hochul's inability to recall specific crimes committed by illegal immigrants and her perceived softness on immigration enforcement have raised concerns among her constituents and could potentially impact her political career.
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Rep. Elise Stefanik accused Gov. Hochul of putting illegals first
During a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary policies and high-profile cases of illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., accused Gov. Kathy Hochul of putting illegals first. Stefanik highlighted how Hochul extended an executive order, a "continuation of [her] predecessor's sanctuary state policies," three times, most recently on January 16, 2025. The order states that state officers or employees shall not disclose information to federal immigration authorities for civil immigration enforcement.
Stefanik questioned Hochul about several high-profile cases involving illegal immigrants, including the case of Sakir Akkan, a 21-year-old illegal immigrant from Turkey who pleaded guilty to raping a 15-year-old girl in Albany, New York, in May 2024. She also mentioned Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an illegal migrant who lit a sleeping woman on fire on the subway. Stefanik accused Hochul of not knowing the details of these cases, despite them being well-known to New Yorkers.
Stefanik further accused Hochul of shielding illegals and prioritizing them over law-abiding New Yorkers, stating that "we deserve a governor who stands up for law-abiding New Yorkers, doesn't put illegals first, but actually puts New Yorkers first." She claimed that Hochul's policies have allowed criminals to walk the streets and that the governor had failed to remember the names of victims and perpetrators in these cases.
In response, Gov. Hochul denied Stefanik's accusations, stating that her representation of the facts was "absolutely false" and that the state does cooperate with federal law enforcement on criminal matters. She accused Stefanik of attempting to create a viral moment rather than addressing the issues at hand.
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Hochul extended an executive order three times, blocking state officers from disclosing information to federal immigration authorities
In June 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul faced scrutiny from Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik during a House Oversight Committee hearing on immigration sanctuary policies. Stefanik questioned Hochul about her inability to recall details of several high-profile crimes committed by undocumented immigrants in New York. The governor's response revealed that she was unaware of specific cases, including that of Sakir Akkan, a 21-year-old undocumented immigrant from Turkey who pleaded guilty to rape in Albany, New York, in May 2024.
The hearing also addressed Hochul's extension of an executive order that shields undocumented immigrants from certain actions by law enforcement. Stefanik asserted that Hochul had extended this order three times, most recently on January 16, 2025. The order, originally issued by Hochul's predecessor, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, prohibits state officers and employees from disclosing information to federal immigration authorities for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement. It also restricts law enforcement officers from using resources, equipment, or personnel to detect or apprehend individuals solely based on suspected civil immigration violations.
During the hearing, Stefanik criticized Hochul for prioritizing "sanctuary state policies" over the safety of New Yorkers. She claimed that these policies endangered Americans by obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts. In response, Hochul defended her administration's cooperation with federal law enforcement on criminal matters, stating that they do cooperate with ICE and law enforcement in criminal cases. She emphasized that law enforcement officers can still work with federal immigration authorities when individuals are convicted of or under investigation for crimes.
Governor Hochul has also implemented other initiatives related to immigration. For example, she extended an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the asylum seeker crisis, aiming to provide municipalities with more flexibility to support asylum seekers and offer humanitarian aid. Additionally, Hochul announced a program to help asylum seekers gain lawful employment, connecting them with employers across New York State.
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ICE issued an order to detain a violent criminal, but it was rejected by New York officials
In 2025, ICE issued an order to detain a violent criminal, which was rejected by New York officials. The case in question involved Sakir Akkan, a 21-year-old illegal immigrant from Turkey who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl in Albany, New York, in May 2024.
The incident sparked controversy, with local officials giving conflicting statements about whether Akkan's immigration status influenced their decision not to notify the public about the crime and his arrest. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul faced scrutiny during a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary policies and high-profile cases of illegal aliens charged with violent crimes. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., criticized Gov. Hochul for extending an executive order that prevents state officers or employees from disclosing information to federal immigration authorities for civil immigration enforcement purposes.
Gov. Hochul defended the state's cooperation with federal law enforcement on criminal matters and claimed that Rep. Stefanik's representation of the facts was false. She also accused the congresswoman of attempting to create a "viral moment." However, Stefanik emphasized that she was standing up for law-abiding New Yorkers, implying that the state's sanctuary policies prioritize the interests of illegal immigrants over those of its citizens.
The rejection of ICE's detainer order by New York officials highlights the ongoing debate between federal and state authorities regarding immigration enforcement and the handling of criminal cases involving illegal aliens. ICE has the authority to issue immigration detainers when there is probable cause to believe an individual is removable from the country, typically after a criminal conviction and when the person poses a threat to public safety or national security. In this case, ICE's efforts to detain a violent criminal were thwarted by New York's sanctuary state laws, which prioritize protecting undocumented immigrants over federal immigration enforcement.
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The Trump administration has threatened to withhold funding from jurisdictions that obstruct deportation efforts
In April 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order titled "Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens". This order asserted federal supremacy in immigration matters and sought to address the public safety and national security risks posed by uncontrolled immigration. The order instructed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to take legal action against sanctuary jurisdictions that defy federal immigration laws.
The Trump administration has also targeted public benefits for immigrants, instructing agencies to limit their access to federal assistance and blocking funding for organizations providing legal services to unaccompanied minors. Additionally, the administration has expanded the powers of immigration enforcement agencies and threatened mass deportations, including the use of expedited removal procedures.
In terms of specific actions related to New York City, there has been criticism of New York Governor Kathy Hochul for extending an executive order that prevents state officers or employees from disclosing information to federal immigration authorities. This policy has been characterised as putting "illegals first" and has been a source of tension between the state and federal governments.
While the Trump administration has not specifically mentioned withholding funding from New York City, the broader context of its policies and actions suggests that jurisdictions with similar sanctuary policies could be targeted for enforcement and loss of federal funding.
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Frequently asked questions
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul extended an executive order, originally created by her predecessor, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, three times, most recently on January 16, 2025.
The order states that state officers or employees shall not disclose information to federal immigration authorities for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforcement.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., accused Gov. Hochul of putting "illegals first" and not upholding the law. Gov. Hochul responded by saying that Stefanik's "representation of the facts is absolutely false."
Sanctuary state laws refer to policies that prevent state and local officials from complying with federal immigration enforcement.
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