As New York Democrats strategize to counter President-elect Donald Trump's promise to create the largest mass deportation program in history, a top Democrat on Thursday said it is unlikely that lawmakers will return to Albany for a special session before the end of the year to strengthen protections for immigrants.
State leaders and elected officials attending the annual SOMOS conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, have engaged in talks to prepare for Trump's planned widespread immigration crackdown when he returns to office in January.
"If there are undocumented families that, for example, might experience a crime, they may be fearful of calling the police because of collusion with [U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement]," Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas said.
González-Rojas co-sponsors a bill known as New York 4 All to limit state and local police from using resources to aid U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement investigations and curb deportations.
The Queens Democrat is one of a few lawmakers calling for the Legislature to hold a special session before the end of the year.
Several state lawmakers told Spectrum News 1 a Trump administration will influence a host of new immigration policies and other legislation to be introduced when the new Legislature takes office in January — including proposals to focus on more services to educate New York immigrants how to interact with ICE.
Some lawmakers want to return to Albany before the end of the year to address the issue and expand employment opportunities for asylym seekers.
But Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris said Thursday a special session is unlikely.
"We will be in session starting in January through June, so we will have plenty of time to deal with things as they arise then," Gianaris said.
Democrats have started conversations about their legislative agenda for next year, which will be finalized in December.
Reacting to Trump's victory, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she's open to legislation or funding to protect New Yorkers' rights during the president-elect's next term.
"If you try to harm New Yorkers or roll back their rights, I will fight you every step of the way," the governor said Wednesday.
Trump's deportation agenda and a comedian calling Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" at a recent rally didn't deter Latino voters from supporting Republicans this election. More Hispanic voters voted for Trump than in 2020, including a boost with younger Latinos.
Frankie Miranda, president of the New York Hispanic Federation, said internal polling shows concerns about the economy mobilized Latinos to the polls and the political right.
"The top three issues for Latinos were pocketbook issues, the inflation, jobs, the economy and affordable housing," Miranda said.
Miranda said immigration issues and related rhetoric this cycle took a backseat as Latinos disproportionately impacted by the pandemic have been slow to recover.
The federation is pressing New York leaders to engage with Hispanic communities year-round and not only before a critical election.
And issues like reproductive rights, transgender issues and gun violence also resonated with Latinos — many of whom are religious.
"There are lots of Catholic Latinos and there are lots of Pentecostal Latinos, an increasing number of them, in fact," said Jacob Neiheisel, a political science professor at the University at Buffalo. "And that is particularly among Pentecostals. That is a core Republican Trump group right now, and he's absolutely speaking their language."