An Albany sit-in led by socialist Democrats to restrict ICE cooperation coincided with the blocking of antisemitism protections, deepening divisions over sanctuary policies and public safety.
At a Glance
- Democrats and activists staged a sit-in at the New York State Capitol for the NY4All Act, aiming to block ICE cooperation and sanctuary enforcement
- The bill would bar police and state employees from working with ICE, prevent access to state property without a warrant, forbid county jails from holding ICE detainees, and ban recording immigration status
- Migratory pushback escalated when the same lawmakers defeated a proposal to strengthen protections against antisemitism on college campuses using the IHRA definition
- “We will remain here until NY4All passes,” declared one activist at the sit-in that temporarily closed Washington Avenue
- Border Czar Tom Homan visited Albany to urge cooperation with ICE and calmly ate an apple while protesters chanted and heckled
NY4All Sit-In: Sanctuary Standoff
On June 10, socialist lawmakers and activists from the New York Immigration Coalition led a sit-in outside the state Capitol to promote the NY4All Act. The legislation would expand New York’s sanctuary policies by barring state cooperation with ICE, requiring warrants for agents to enter state facilities, and prohibiting the recording of immigration status in state databases. Demonstrators blocked traffic on Washington Avenue, chanting demands for lawmakers to advance the bill. Assemblyman Matt Slater warned it would make New York a “safe harbor” for illegal immigration.
Antisemitism Bill Killed Amid Sanctuary Push
While championing protections for undocumented immigrants, Assembly Democrats blocked a bill that would have aligned New York’s education laws with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. Republican Assemblyman Slater, the bill’s sponsor, called the move “shameful,” especially amid rising antisemitic incidents since October 2023. The proposal included enhanced penalties for damaging Holocaust memorials and mandated educational recognition of antisemitic threats on college campuses. Speaker Carl Heastie faced accusations of “veiled antisemitism” for stacking the committee against the measure.
Homan in the Storm
Former ICE Director Tom Homan visited Albany to advocate for federal-state cooperation on immigration enforcement. As protesters heckled him with accusations of targeting immigrants, Homan remained calm—famously eating an apple while Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani shouted questions about civil liberties. Homan responded by reaffirming ICE’s resolve: “We’ll double the man-force if we have to,” warning that sanctuary policies complicate operations and increase risk for agents and the public alike.
Watch a report: Tom Homan confronted in Albany.
Broader Implications
The juxtaposition of the sanctuary sit-in and the defeat of antisemitism legislation spotlights a deepening ideological divide in Albany. While progressive lawmakers prioritize protections for undocumented immigrants, critics argue this comes at the expense of safety for vulnerable communities like Jewish students. With protests expected to continue, the outcome of the NY4All Act may serve as a bellwether for the direction of state policy and the limits of sanctuary governance in the face of federal law.
