The US president questioned the immigration policies of the
New York governor and demanded the expedited deportation of immigrants with
criminal records.
Trump harshly criticized Hochul and questioned why state
authorities are allowing certain immigrants to remain free while Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeks to execute arrest or deportation orders.
“What’s wrong with her? How can she do that? We want to get
the bad guys out of the country fast,” Trump reportedly said, referring to the
situation.
The dispute is part of a broader confrontation between the
Trump administration and state and local governments that maintain more
restrictive immigration policies versus cooperation with federal immigration
authorities.
Since Trump's return to the White House, the deportation of
immigrants who are in the United States illegally, and especially those with
criminal records, has become one of his administration's top priorities,
fulfilling a campaign promise.
The president has insisted that local authorities must
cooperate with ICE to facilitate the detention and subsequent removal of
individuals who pose a risk to public safety.
In New York, the controversy also relates to so-called
sanctuary city policies and the restrictions on cooperation between local
authorities and federal immigration agents.