Five Democratic Socialist assemblywomen joined a protest to block traffic outside the state Capitol on Tuesday after most Democrats in the Legislature have indicated they wouldn't support expanding sanctuary policies statewide, or restrict state and local agencies from sharing information with federal immigration authorities.

Dozens of immigration rights advocates led by the New York Immigration Coalition railed against ramped up deportation efforts led by President Donald Trump's administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE — shutting down the intersection of Washington Avenue and North Hawk Street in front of the Capitol.

They shouted for hours about a bill known as New York For All as it becomes more unlikely it will clear both houses of the Legislature before session ends.

"Our neighbors are frightened," said Assemblywoman Marcela Mitaynes, a Brooklyn Democrat. "We're seeing the numbers drop in school attendance. Our businesses are starting to get concerned about their workforce."

Demonstrators marched around the Capitol, taking banners to the street to block traffic in hopes of getting arrested.

Protesters and lawmakers held the demonstration after recent reports of increased ICE activity around the state, including at a school bus stop in Albany County, and Gov. Kathy Hochul prepares to testify Thursday to a Republican-led congressional committee investigating the country's sanctuary policies.

But multiple lawmakers said a majority of Democrats in the Senate and Assembly expressed concern this week during discussions as a conference about expanding the anti-ICE initiative statewide as the session clock runs out — fearing political pushback when they seek re-election next year.

"I think people are afraid of the issue; they think it's a losing issue," said Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, a Queens Democrat. "But we know from New York City's mayoral race that when we foreground our issues, affordability, child care, transportation, those become the issues."

State police troopers monitored the area, but did not engage with protesters or make arrests. The city of Albany placed garbage trucks on nearby streets to block traffic from the area. Albany police have jurisdiction over Washington Avenue, but city law enforcement did not show up at the scene.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan's Deputy Chief of Staff Alyson Baker said in a statement that the mayor did not direct Albany police to arrest any protesters or lawmakers who blocked traffic because they have the right to protest.

"As the capitol of New York, we handle protests all the time," Baker said Tuesday. "We seek to strike a balance between the right to protest and public safety."

No arrests were made.

A spokesperson with Sheehan's office said the Albany mayor did not prevent arrests because she supports the premise of the bill.

Democratic Socialist Assemblywomen Phara Souffrant Forrest, Sarahana Shrestha, Emily Gallagher, Mitaynes and Valdez, who are all immigrants or represent immigrant-dense communities in the Hudson Valley and New York City, said they were ready to be detained.

"Our localities don't have the money to do the things they need to do, such as running the EMS service, so we don't want this additional responsibility of doing ICE's job for them," said Shrestha, a Democrat from Kingston.

National Republican leaders, like Congresswoman Elise Stefanik who visited the Capitol on Monday, continue to double down on the GOP's intent to deport criminals, and cut spending used on resources for undocumented immigrants.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters Monday he's devastated by ICE's actions, but states have limited influence on immigration, which is a federal issue.

"I don't know how much that we could possibly do on an immigration issue," he said.

New York For All has broad support from labor unions concerned about the impact ICE activity will have on the workforce.

Assembly sponsor Karines Reyes said her bill does not prevent the deportation of criminals and lets police enforce the law, but would ensure state resources and employees aren't used to do ICE's handiwork.

"We are not handcuffing law enforcement by any means," Reyes said. "ICE can still continue to look for and target people who have criminal records if they have a judicial warrant. We're just saying that we are not using our state resources to do the work."

The assemblywoman said she will continue to fight for a compromise, adding the policy is a critical step for New York to fight Trump's immigration policies.

"History will look back at this time and people will find themselves either on the right side or wrong side of the issue," Reyes said.