Republican New York Congresswoman Nicole Malitakis is spearheading an initiative, dubbed Lincoln's Law, aimed at reforming the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is notified of potential migrants arrested for various crimes. The proposed legislation seeks to streamline the process of alerting ICE about individuals involved in criminal activities. Malitakis and her Republican colleagues are pushing for the swift passage of this measure.
The focus of the effort is on overturning a 2014 law enacted by the New York City Council under Mayor Bill de Blasio, which prohibited the New York Police Department (NYPD) from collaborating with ICE. Despite initial support from the mayor for amending the law, recent developments indicate a shift in his stance, complicating the prospects of bipartisan cooperation.
State Senator Andrew Lanza of Staten Island has taken a proactive step by introducing legislation at the state level that mandates local law enforcement agencies to comply with ICE detainer requests. The rationale behind this move is to ensure that individuals with a history of criminal behavior, including those deported previously or involved in offenses, are promptly deported upon ICE's request.
Congresswoman Malitakis emphasized the importance of Democratic support in New York City and the state government to facilitate the effective implementation of these measures. She highlighted instances where individuals with criminal backgrounds, including a parolee responsible for a crime in New York City, were not handed over to ICE for deportation, citing lax enforcement under the current administration.
The call for enhanced cooperation between law enforcement agencies and ICE underscores the need to address public safety concerns and uphold immigration laws. Malitakis stressed the urgency of maintaining pressure on Democratic officials to prioritize the safety and security of communities by supporting measures that facilitate the deportation of criminal offenders.
