A Border Under Siege
New York's northern border is unraveling. Governor Kathy Hochul's administration claims to prioritize safety, yet illegal crossings from Canada are climbing, and transnational gangs exploit weak defenses. The state's $8 million budget allocation for border security, announced in 2025, is a feeble gesture against a rising tide of threats. Why do New Yorkers face this growing danger?
Hochul's June 2025 testimony before the House Oversight Committee offered a chance to confront these issues head-on. Instead, she leaned on rehearsed defenses, highlighting 1,343 non-citizen inmates transferred to ICE since 2021. This figure obscures a larger failure, New York's inconsistent cooperation with federal immigration officials leaves dangerous loopholes. A Pakistani national's thwarted plot to attack a Jewish center in New York City underscores the stakes. One success doesn't erase the risk of future failures.
Vigilance saved us once, but relying on last-minute interventions is no strategy. New York needs ironclad policies to deter those who threaten our communities and establish order. Half-hearted measures only invite chaos.
The Sanctuary Illusion
Hochul's team insists New York isn't a sanctuary state, citing cooperation with ICE on criminal cases. Yet the state's selective approach, engaging only on its terms, creates a system ripe for exploitation. Research suggests sanctuary policies may not spike crime, but real-world tragedies, like the 2015 San Francisco killing by an illegal immigrant shielded by local rules, expose their flaws. New York's stance is a reckless gamble. It offers no genuine protection.
National FBI data peg 2023 violent crime at 3.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, but 77 percent of Americans still fear rising crime. In New York City, auto thefts have nearly tripled since 2019, despite Hochul's claim of a 41 percent murder drop since 2021. These gains teeter when immigration policies allow lawbreakers to slip through. States like Texas and Florida, with their unwavering ICE partnerships, show a better path by enforcing the law without compromise.
New Yorkers deserve a government that upholds order and rejects appeasement of advocates for open borders. Why settle for a system that risks our safety?
Subway Security: A Shaky Victory
Hochul celebrates a subway crime drop, with major offenses down 18 percent in early 2025. Investments like $77 million for NYPD overnight patrols and cameras on every train sound reassuring. But a 30 percent crime surge in one April 2025 week reveals how fragile these wins are. Commuters sense the unease on crowded platforms, no matter the statistics.
Rising ridership, Hochul argues, proves public trust. Yet many New Yorkers ride out of necessity, lacking confidence in the system. The governor's $2.6 billion for public safety, including $350 million for gun violence prevention, is commendable but misses the mark. Without tackling lax immigration rules that embolden gangs, these efforts are mere patches on a festering problem.
A Call for Resolve
New York demands leadership that puts safety first. President Trump's April 2025 executive order, targeting jurisdictions that defy ICE, sets a clear standard, demanding full cooperation or consequences. Hochul's resistance to this directive undermines the well-being of every New Yorker.
The 2025 bipartisan border bill, which Hochul endorsed, promised $20 billion for enforcement but fell short, as leaders like James Comer and Jim Jordan noted, by encouraging illegal immigration. New York needs bold action, full ICE cooperation, consistent detainer honors, and a rejection of flawed compromises. Anything less betrays the public's trust.
Hochul faces a critical decision, either strengthening enforcement and securing our borders, or clinging to policies that invite disorder. New Yorkers are watching. Will she act to protect us, or let the state slide further into peril?