New York City Councilor Horton submits article to New York Post urging reassessment and revision of sanctuary city laws.

Cony Island Sexual Assault Suspect is a Recidivist Undocumented Immigrant Released Shortly Before, Sparking High Social Concern. New York City Councilor Robert Holden recently published an article in the New York Post, pointing out that the case is a serious consequence of New York City’s sanctuary city policy. He emphasized that the financial burden of New York City’s sanctuary policy is shocking, with an estimated expenditure of $12 billion by the end of the next fiscal year. He urged the city government to prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens and to reconsider his proposal to amend the sanctuary city law.

Currently, there are about 30 sanctuary cities in the United States, including New York City. The sanctuary city policy is politically controversial; supporters believe it promotes multiculturalism and inclusivity, while opponents are concerned that it may weaken law enforcement and pose a threat to public safety.

The main difference between sanctuary and non-sanctuary cities lies in the level of cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sanctuary cities typically do not collaborate with ICE or provide limited assistance, while non-sanctuary cities generally fully cooperate.

Under New York City’s sanctuary policy, law enforcement agencies do not share case progress with ICE unless it involves major cases. This results in undocumented immigrants involved in crimes being released without immediate deportation, remaining in the United States.

Holden cited survey data indicating that public concern about the impact of sanctuary city policies on public safety and resources is increasing. A poll by Quinnipiac University showed that 70% of voters believe the influx of immigrants in New York City has become a crisis. He also highlighted the lessons from the 9/11 tragedy, emphasizing that inadequate information sharing and lax security measures can have devastating consequences.

He criticized the New York City Charter Revision Commission for ignoring many concerns expressed in written testimonies last month and failing to include the issue of abolishing sanctuary cities in the vote.

With a significant increase in new immigrants, some communities in New York City have homeless shelters scattered across, allowing a few undocumented immigrants to become habitual offenders through legal loopholes.

In June of this year, Holden, as a member of the New York City Council’s Public Safety Committee, introduced a new bill calling for the repeal of four provisions granting New York City sanctuary city status to enhance law enforcement’s ability to protect the safety of city residents. However, the bill is currently in limbo.

The influx of too many immigrants will inevitably impact the New York economy. Leader of the Democratic Party’s 65th Assembly District, Yuming Shan, stated that under the sanctuary city policy, New York State and City must commit to providing shelter, food, education support, and resettlement to all undocumented immigrants seeking sanctuary. This creates a misconception among global illegal immigrants that New York is a paradise for them, putting pressure on local finances and service facilities, and inevitably leading to an increase in taxes in New York to serve undocumented immigrants, thus further burdening residents.