ALBANY - Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan (R,C-Manchester) supports the need for increased border security and end New York state’s sanctuary policies. Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences as well as Executive Associate Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations Tom Homan (“Border Czar”) promoted proposals aimed at restoring cooperation among local and state agencies and federal immigration authorities and enhancing security measures at the northern border.

Gallahan and his colleagues are fighting for two bills: Assembly Bill A.1528, which would exempt New York’s northern border counties from much of the state’s “Green Light Law”, thereby allowing law enforcement officials to utilize resources necessary to secure New York state’s international border, and Assembly Bill A.2262, also known as “Laken’s Law,” which would restore cooperation by law enforcement, New York courts and correctional facilities with federal authorities in cases involving the arrest, conviction and imminent release of illegal migrants.

“New Yorkers are fed up,” said Gallahan. “Residents and families throughout our state and country have feared for their safety when it comes to failed immigration policies and lack of border security. Illegal migrants have been granted rights and protections despite entering the country illegally. We have heard countless stories of crimes committed by illegal migrants against U.S. citizens, including young women like  Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was killed by an illegal migrant who was previously apprehended for crossing the border illegally, subsequently paroled into the U.S. and arrested in New York for acting in a manner to injure a child, only to be released from custody and consequently free to travel to Georgia where he killed Laken Riley.”

“To prevent future crimes like this from occurring and to protect our citizens, we must cooperate with federal immigration authorities and increase our nation’s border security. It needs to be our top priority,” concluded Gallahan. 

Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan represents the 131st  Assembly District, which includes portions of Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Broome and Chenango counties. For more information about Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan,  please visit his official Assembly website. 

- From the Office of Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan