Bruce Blakeman

“Kathy Hochul appealed to ICE to let this criminal out. The question that New Yorkers have to ask is what was this guy doing in New York in the first place? It's because Kathy Hochul has made us a sanctuary state,”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman criticized Hochul's sanctuary state policies during the gubernatorial debate's opening question about ICE conduct.

“I have a cooperative agreement with ICE until Kathy Hochul said we could no longer cooperate with ICE. We got over 2,000 illegal migrants out of my county with criminal records ranging from rape, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, drug dealing, carjacking, gang activity. And that's because we cooperated with ICE, and we didn't raid one school, one hospital, one daycare center or one church. If you cooperate with federal law enforcement, it makes for a safer community. That's what I did. Kathy Hochul is taking that ability away from us. That's why things like this happen.”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman described his county's cooperative agreement with ICE and claimed it removed over 2,000 illegal migrants with criminal records.

“it never would have happened”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman pushed back against Hochul, arguing the ICE shooting incident would not have occurred but for her sanctuary policy.

“The highest taxes, utility rates that are 70% higher than the national average. But let me say something about Donald Trump. Donald Trump is my friend. He's endorsed me. But so is Bonnie Lautenberg, a liberal Democrat whose husband, Frank, served in the United States Senate and was a pillar of the Democratic Party. Actor Debra Messing, who is a liberal Democrat who supports me because she trusts me to make safer communities, improve the quality of life here in New York.”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman cited high taxes and utility rates and noted endorsements from Trump and liberal Democrats including Bonnie Lautenberg and Debra Messing.

“You have invited criminals to come into our state and prey on our communities. And now you won't let local law enforcement cooperate with ICE in an orderly way, like we did in my county,”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman accused Hochul of inviting criminals into the state and preventing local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE.

“You like to talk about Donald Trump all the time, because you don't want to talk about your record,”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman responded to Hochul's criticism of Trump by accusing her of avoiding discussion of her own record.

“Because it's a record of misery and failure,”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman characterized Hochul's record as one of misery and failure.

“We didn't have any incidents in my county because we were allowed to cooperate with local law enforcement. But you took that tool away. The reason why that happened is because of you, Kathy Hochul, and your immigration policies, where you actually invite people into our state, give them free everything, and you don't care whether they're criminals or not. That's a bad policy.”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman blamed Hochul's immigration policies for the ICE incident and criticized giving free benefits regardless of criminal status.

“Think about it. This guy came into the country illegally. He's been convicted of a crime. He's got pending charges for dealing drugs, poison to our children. And he's a gangbanger. This is who Kathy Hochul is defending?”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-10-14 · reported 2026-10-14

Blakeman continued attacking Hochul for defending an illegal migrant with a criminal record and pending drug charges.

“doesn’t work with local governments and business leaders to figure out how to get things done,”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-07-14 · reported 2026-07-14

Blakeman, who opposes a statewide moratorium, criticized the governor in a statement Tuesday.

“modernize our economy to bring costs down and create good jobs.”

Bruce Blakeman · said 2026-07-14 · reported 2026-07-14

Blakeman pledged in a statement Tuesday to modernize the economy and bring costs down.