Key Takeaways
• Rep. Velázquez leads urgent call to pass New York for All Act before June 12-17, 2025 recess.
• The Act limits state and local cooperation with ICE, barring civil immigration enforcement without criminal investigations.
• ICE raids arrested 206 people in May 2025, increasing immigrant community fear and urgency for protections.
A High-Stakes Push for Immigrant Protections: Velázquez and the New York for All Act
Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
In the final days before the New York State Legislature’s summer recess in June 2025, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez led a group of Congressional lawmakers in a strong call for immediate passage of the New York for All Act. This bill, if passed, would sharply limit how state and local police and government agencies in New York can work with federal immigration authorities, especially Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The push comes as ICE raids have increased across New York City and surrounding areas, creating fear and uncertainty for many immigrant families.
The urgency is clear: the State Senate is set to recess on June 12, and the Assembly on June 17. If the New York for All Act does not pass both chambers before these dates, protections for immigrants could be delayed until the next legislative session. Velázquez and her colleagues argue that the bill is needed now, as ICE enforcement actions have ramped up under the Trump administration, leading to hundreds of arrests and growing concern about the treatment of immigrants in detention.
What Is the New York for All Act?
The New York for All Act (S.2235/A3506) is a proposed law that would:
- Stop state and local police and government agencies from helping ICE with civil immigration enforcement. This means they could not help ICE arrest or detain people just for immigration reasons, unless there is a criminal investigation.
- Require ICE to show a judicial warrant (an order from a judge) before entering non-public government buildings or asking for help from local police.
- Ban sharing of sensitive information like immigration status with federal authorities, unless it is part of a criminal investigation.
- Allow cooperation with ICE only for criminal matters, not for civil immigration enforcement.
Supporters say these steps are needed to protect immigrant families from being separated and to make sure people feel safe using public services like schools, hospitals, and police.
Why Now? The Surge in ICE Raids and Detentions
The push for the New York for All Act comes after a series of high-profile ICE raids in New York. In May 2025, ICE carried out an “enhanced targeted immigration enforcement operation,” arresting 206 people in New York City and nearby areas. Of these, 121 had serious criminal convictions or pending charges, according to ICE. However, critics argue that many others swept up in these raids had no criminal record and were simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As of February 2025, ICE was holding over 41,000 people in detention centers across the United States 🇺🇸, a number that has been rising since President Trump took office again in 2025. Deportations have also increased, with ICE removing an average of 742 immigrants per day in fiscal year 2024. In the first two weeks of the Trump administration’s new term, deportations averaged 693 per day.
Congressional Leaders Take Action
Rep. Velázquez, joined by other prominent lawmakers such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Grace Meng, Jerry Nadler, George Latimer, Paul Tonko, Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, and Ritchie Torres, sent a formal letter on June 10, 2025, to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. They urged immediate passage of the New York for All Act before the summer recess.
Velázquez and Rep. Adriano Espaillat also tried to visit the ICE detention center at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan on June 8, 2025, to check on conditions. They were denied entry, which led to public outrage and renewed calls for more transparency and oversight of ICE operations.
Union and Community Support
Major labor unions, representing hundreds of thousands of workers in New York, have joined the call for the bill’s passage. They argue that the current “patchwork” of local policies leaves immigrant workers exposed to sudden ICE raids at their workplaces and creates confusion about what protections exist. Unions say a statewide law would provide clear, uniform rules and help prevent families from being separated.
Community groups and immigrant advocates, including the Immigrant Defense Project and the New York Immigration Coalition, also support the bill. They say it is the strongest step New York can take to protect immigrants from federal deportation efforts and to build trust between immigrant communities and local authorities.
What Would Change for Immigrants and Law Enforcement?
If the New York for All Act becomes law, it would have several important effects:
- For Immigrants: Local and state agencies could not help ICE with civil immigration enforcement. This would make it harder for ICE to use local police to find and arrest people for immigration reasons. Immigrants would be less afraid to use public services or report crimes, knowing that local police are not working with ICE unless there is a criminal investigation.
- For Law Enforcement: Police and other agencies would have clear rules about what they can and cannot do. They would not be allowed to help ICE with civil immigration enforcement, but could still work with ICE on criminal cases. This would help local police focus on public safety, not federal immigration enforcement.
- For Communities: The bill is designed to reduce fear and confusion, making it easier for immigrants to get health care, send their children to school, and report crimes without worrying about being turned over to ICE.
ICE’s Position and the Debate Over Public Safety
ICE officials, including Acting Director Todd M. Lyons and New York City Field Office Director Judith Almodovar, have defended recent enforcement actions. They say that cooperation with local law enforcement is essential for removing dangerous criminals from the community. ICE points out that many of those arrested in recent raids had serious criminal records.
However, critics argue that ICE’s broad enforcement sweeps often catch people with no criminal history, leading to family separations and fear in immigrant neighborhoods. They say that when local police work with ICE, it makes immigrants less likely to report crimes or cooperate with investigations, which can actually make communities less safe.
The Legislative Process: A Race Against the Clock
The New York for All Act has already been introduced in both the State Senate and Assembly (as S.2235/A3506). The bill is currently under review by legislative committees. With the Senate set to recess on June 12 and the Assembly on June 17, lawmakers have only a few days to pass the bill this session. If they do, it will go to Governor Hochul for her signature.
If the bill does not pass before the recess, it will have to wait until the next legislative session, delaying protections for immigrant communities.
Historical Background: Why This Matters Now
The debate over local cooperation with ICE is not new. Between 2016 and 2018, ICE arrests in New York City increased by 53%, a much faster rate than the national average. This led to growing fear among immigrants, many of whom worried that any contact with police or government agencies could lead to deportation.
New York has long been seen as a “sanctuary” state, with many local governments limiting cooperation with ICE. However, the lack of a statewide law has created a patchwork of policies, with different rules in different counties and cities. This means that immigrants can face very different risks depending on where they live or work.
The New York for All Act aims to fix this by creating clear, statewide rules that apply everywhere in New York.
Multiple Perspectives: Supporters and Opponents
- Supporters: Advocates, unions, and many lawmakers say the New York for All Act is essential for public safety, family unity, and community trust. They argue that when immigrants feel safe, everyone benefits. They also point out that the bill does not stop police from working with ICE on criminal cases.
- Opponents: ICE and some federal officials argue that limiting cooperation makes it harder to remove dangerous criminals and undermines public safety. They say that local police are important partners in finding and arresting people who pose a threat.
Recent Events Highlight the Stakes
The denial of entry to Velázquez and Espaillat at the ICE detention center in Manhattan has brought new attention to the issue. Both lawmakers expressed outrage at the lack of transparency and called for more oversight of ICE operations. This incident has added urgency to the push for the New York for All Act, as many see it as a way to hold federal agencies accountable and protect the rights of immigrants.
Union Voices: The Workplace Impact
Labor unions have been especially vocal in supporting the bill. They argue that ICE raids at workplaces create chaos and fear, making it harder for workers to stand up for their rights or report unsafe conditions. Unions say that a clear, statewide law would help protect all workers, not just immigrants, by making sure that everyone knows their rights and that local police are focused on public safety, not immigration enforcement.
What Happens Next?
The outcome of the New York for All Act will be decided in the coming days. If the bill passes, New York will become a national leader in limiting local involvement in federal immigration enforcement. This could inspire other states to take similar steps, but it could also lead to legal challenges or pushback from federal officials.
If the bill does not pass before the summer recess, protections for immigrants will be delayed, and the debate will likely continue into the next legislative session.
Practical Steps for Immigrants and Advocates
- Stay Informed: Immigrants and advocates should follow updates on the bill’s status through the New York State Senate’s official website.
- Know Your Rights: Community groups like the New York Immigration Coalition and the Immigrant Defense Project offer resources and information about rights during ICE raids and interactions with law enforcement.
- Contact Lawmakers: Supporters of the bill can contact Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Heastie to express their views.
- Seek Legal Help: Immigrants facing ICE enforcement actions should seek legal advice from trusted organizations or attorneys.
Looking Ahead: National Implications
The fight over the New York for All Act is being watched closely across the United States 🇺🇸. If New York passes the bill, it could set a model for other states looking to protect immigrant communities from federal enforcement actions. However, it could also lead to legal battles over the limits of state and federal power.
Congressional Democrats, including Velázquez, have promised to use their budget powers to oppose funding for federal immigration enforcement practices they see as inhumane. This signals that the debate over immigration enforcement and local cooperation will continue at both the state and federal levels.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for New York and Beyond
The next few days will be critical for immigrant protections in New York. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the outcome of the New York for All Act will have far-reaching effects, not just for immigrants in New York, but for the national debate over immigration enforcement and community safety.
For immigrants, families, workers, and advocates, the stakes could not be higher. The decision by state lawmakers will shape the future of immigrant rights, public safety, and the relationship between local and federal authorities for years to come.
Learn Today
New York for All Act → Proposed law limiting local cooperation with ICE in civil immigration enforcement unless criminal investigation exists.
ICE → Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency enforcing immigration laws, often conducting raids and detentions.
Civil Immigration Enforcement → Actions targeting immigration violations not related to criminal offenses, such as detentions or deportations.
Judicial Warrant → A legal order from a judge authorizing law enforcement to perform certain actions, like searches or arrests.
Sanctuary State → A state limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to protect immigrant communities from deportations.
This Article in a Nutshell
In June 2025, Rep. Velázquez pushes the New York for All Act to limit ICE cooperation by local agencies. Rising ICE raids fuel urgency. The Act aims to protect immigrant families, ensuring safety, privacy, and trust while preserving law enforcement’s focus on criminal matters only.
— By VisaVerge.com
