Republican politicians are calling for the deportation of the migrants involved in the attack on two NYPD cops in Times Square. Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, stated that it is worth considering deportation for those who commit crimes against police officers while being in the state illegally. The incident, caught on camera, shows a scuffle breaking out between the officers and the migrants after they were asked to move along.
Republican officials such as Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella support the deportation of these individuals, emphasizing that committing a crime in the city forfeits any opportunity to become a citizen. Although New York City is a sanctuary city, legal experts clarify that it does not protect individuals from prosecution for serious offenses. Defense attorney Michael Bachner believes that assaulting an officer would likely result in deportation.
The five men involved in the Times Square attack have been arraigned and released without bail, while three suspects remain at large. Governor Hochul expressed her discontent with the handling of the incident, calling it abhorrent. Mayor Eric Adams condemned the attack and emphasized the importance of prosecuting the offenders. New York City has seen a significant influx of migrants seeking asylum, with a few cases of crimes tied to some of them.