New York · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on immigration?
Bruce BlakemanRepublican
Kathy HochulDemocratIncumbent
Part of the full New York Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Immigration
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Bruce Blakeman
Supports police cooperation with ICE, which Nassau had until a 2026 state ban; says he would end what he calls the state's sanctuary policy; backs a guest worker program.
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- Past actionMarch 10, 2025
As county executive he announced on Feb. 4, 2025, that county law enforcement would work with ICE; the sheriff's office signed a 287(g) agreement on Feb. 28 and the police department a task force agreement on March 10, 2025. Nassau ended both effective Aug. 25, 2026, under a new state law banning such agreements; he opposed the law but said the county would comply. 2 sourcesNassau enters controversial ‘task force’ agreement with ICE (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · March 17, 2025 · NewsNassau ends ICE partnership, Blakeman calls it ‘saddest day’ (opens in a new tab)Long Island Press · Aug. 27, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalDec. 21, 2025
Says he would rescind what he calls New York's sanctuary state policy on his first day as governor. 2 sourcesBruce Blakeman reveals one issue 'off the table' in NY governor race as he slams Hochul's 'green energy scam' (opens in a new tab)New York Post, via AOL · Dec. 21, 2025 · NewsHochul and Blakeman trade barbs in only governor debate (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate he said cooperating with federal law enforcement "makes for a safer community" and said he supports a guest worker program for immigrants, which he cited as a policy difference with President Trump. 3 sources5 moments that defined the gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Oct. 13, 2026 · NewsHochul keeps Trump center stage as Blakeman softens praise in lone governor debate over ICE, crime and affordability (opens in a new tab)amNewYork · Oct. 14, 2026 · NewsHochul, Blakeman clash in debate on Trump, immigration, Cornell investigation, and more (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 New York · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
- Past actionMarch 10, 2025
As county executive he announced on Feb. 4, 2025, that county law enforcement would work with ICE; the sheriff's office signed a 287(g) agreement on Feb. 28 and the police department a task force agreement on March 10, 2025. Nassau ended both effective Aug. 25, 2026, under a new state law banning such agreements; he opposed the law but said the county would comply. 2 sourcesNassau enters controversial ‘task force’ agreement with ICE (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · March 17, 2025 · NewsNassau ends ICE partnership, Blakeman calls it ‘saddest day’ (opens in a new tab)Long Island Press · Aug. 27, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalDec. 21, 2025
Says he would rescind what he calls New York's sanctuary state policy on his first day as governor. 2 sourcesBruce Blakeman reveals one issue 'off the table' in NY governor race as he slams Hochul's 'green energy scam' (opens in a new tab)New York Post, via AOL · Dec. 21, 2025 · NewsHochul and Blakeman trade barbs in only governor debate (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate he said cooperating with federal law enforcement "makes for a safer community" and said he supports a guest worker program for immigrants, which he cited as a policy difference with President Trump. 3 sources5 moments that defined the gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Oct. 13, 2026 · NewsHochul keeps Trump center stage as Blakeman softens praise in lone governor debate over ICE, crime and affordability (opens in a new tab)amNewYork · Oct. 14, 2026 · NewsHochul, Blakeman clash in debate on Trump, immigration, Cornell investigation, and more (opens in a new tab)FOX 5 New York · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
Kathy Hochul
Signed a 2026 law barring 287(g) agreements and masked law enforcement; a court blocked the mask and ID rules but not the 287(g) ban; says ICE is "out of control."
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget enacted the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act and related measures: they bar local governments and police from 287(g) or similar agreements for civil immigration enforcement, prohibit officers from wearing face coverings while interacting with the public, require a judicial warrant for immigration authorities to enter non-public areas of state and local facilities such as schools and hospitals, and let people sue officials for violating their constitutional rights. In August 2026 a federal judge, ruling in a Justice Department suit, preliminarily blocked enforcement of the law's face-covering and identification provisions but let the 287(g) ban take effect. 5 sourcesHochul signs $268.5 billion budget for New York State (opens in a new tab)WRGB CBS 6 Albany, via CNY Central · May 28, 2026 · NewsHochul: $268B budget has climate, car insurance changes (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · May 7, 2026 · NewsGovernor Hochul Signs Budget That Makes New York More Affordable, Keeps New Yorkers Safe And Expands Opportunity For All (opens in a new tab)LongIsland.com · May 28, 2026 · NewsFederal judge blocks New York law preventing ICE agents from wearing masks (opens in a new tab)The National Desk, via KATV · Aug. 5, 2026 · NewsUnited States v. State of New York (United States v. Russo), No. 1:26-cv-01360 (N.D.N.Y.), docket (opens in a new tab)U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, via CourtListener · June 22, 2026 · Court record
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate she said "ICE is out of control" in Nassau County, criticized federal immigration operations there, and described an 11-year-old whose father was detained by Nassau County police on the way to a Home Depot and held for months in a detention center. 2 sourcesHochul and Blakeman trade barbs in only governor debate (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 14, 2026 · News5 moments that defined the gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
- Enacted policyMay 28, 2026
Her fiscal 2027 budget enacted the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act and related measures: they bar local governments and police from 287(g) or similar agreements for civil immigration enforcement, prohibit officers from wearing face coverings while interacting with the public, require a judicial warrant for immigration authorities to enter non-public areas of state and local facilities such as schools and hospitals, and let people sue officials for violating their constitutional rights. In August 2026 a federal judge, ruling in a Justice Department suit, preliminarily blocked enforcement of the law's face-covering and identification provisions but let the 287(g) ban take effect. 5 sourcesHochul signs $268.5 billion budget for New York State (opens in a new tab)WRGB CBS 6 Albany, via CNY Central · May 28, 2026 · NewsHochul: $268B budget has climate, car insurance changes (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News · May 7, 2026 · NewsGovernor Hochul Signs Budget That Makes New York More Affordable, Keeps New Yorkers Safe And Expands Opportunity For All (opens in a new tab)LongIsland.com · May 28, 2026 · NewsFederal judge blocks New York law preventing ICE agents from wearing masks (opens in a new tab)The National Desk, via KATV · Aug. 5, 2026 · NewsUnited States v. State of New York (United States v. Russo), No. 1:26-cv-01360 (N.D.N.Y.), docket (opens in a new tab)U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, via CourtListener · June 22, 2026 · Court record
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
In the Oct. 13 debate she said "ICE is out of control" in Nassau County, criticized federal immigration operations there, and described an 11-year-old whose father was detained by Nassau County police on the way to a Home Depot and held for months in a detention center. 2 sourcesHochul and Blakeman trade barbs in only governor debate (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 14, 2026 · News5 moments that defined the gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)City & State New York · Oct. 13, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on immigration
Selected votes
Bruce Blakeman
No selected votes for this candidate
Kathy Hochul
STEM Jobs Act of 2012 (H.R. 6429, 112th Congress)
ImmigrationWould have made up to 55,000 immigrant visas a year available to foreign graduates of U.S. doctoral and certain master's programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, eliminated the diversity immigrant visa program, and let spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents wait in the United States for their immigrant visas after a year on the waiting list.
Passed the House 245–139 on Nov. 30, 2012; placed on the Senate calendar Dec. 4, 2012, and did not become law.
2 sourcesRoll Call 613: H.R. 6429, STEM Jobs Act of 2012, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Nov. 30, 2012 · Legislative recordH.R.6429 - STEM Jobs Act of 2012 (112th Congress) (opens in a new tab)Library of Congress (Congress.gov) · Legislative recordVoted yesU.S. House · Nov. 30, 2012
On Passage
House roll call 613, 2012 (official record, opens in a new tab)SourceRoll Call 613: H.R. 6429, STEM Jobs Act of 2012, On Passage (opens in a new tab)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Nov. 30, 2012 · Legislative record
In their own words
Statements
Bruce Blakeman
Local cooperation with ICE
If you cooperate with federal law enforcement, it makes for a safer community
Bruce Blakeman · Debate with Kathy Hochul, hosted by Spectrum News NY1 in New York City, answering a question about an ICE agent's shooting of a man in Marble Hill the week before · Oct. 13, 2026
2 sourcesHochul, Blakeman spar off in gubernatorial debate (full debate video) (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News NY1 · Oct. 13, 2026 · Transcript or videoHochul keeps Trump center stage as Blakeman softens praise in lone governor debate over ICE, crime and affordability (opens in a new tab)amNewYork · Oct. 14, 2026 · News
Kathy Hochul
State limits on federal immigration enforcement
A badge carries with it a responsibility to uphold the public’s trust. New Yorkers deserve to know who is enforcing the law in their communities and have the assurance that local resources are being deployed to protect public safety, not to intimidate or advance the agenda of a rogue federal agency
Kathy Hochul · Statement responding to the Justice Department's lawsuit over New York's 2026 immigration law, as quoted by Gothamist · June 22, 2026
SourceTrump administration challenges NY's new immigration law in court (opens in a new tab)Gothamist, via WAMC · June 23, 2026 · News
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