Immigration advocates want a special legislative session to be called

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--- Outside of the New York State Capitol on Wednesday Morning, members from a handful of organizations called on Governor Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to call a special session.

If that were to happen, lawmakers would have to come back to Albany before January. Those who gathered say state elected officials have unfinished business to complete. 

"The New York State legislature has already failed us once. How did they fail us? They did not pass any immigration bill to protect immigrant New Yorkers. They did not pass any bills related to raising revenue for the state," said Iridian Riccobono Lucas, campaign Coordinator for Columbia County Sanctuary Movement.

One bill advocates would like to see passed is the New York for All Act. 

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2235/amendment/A

"The premise of New York for All, is to say that absent a judicial warrant, so a warrant signed by a judge for someone’s arrest, we don’t believe that local law enforcement and local government should be actively conspiring and colluding with ICE for the purposes of carrying out immigration enforcement actions," explained Senator Andrew Gounardes, who sponsors the bill.

Another bill they want enacted is the New York Dignity Not Detention Act, which according to the bill, would prohibit government entities from agreeing to house people in immigration detention facilities. Neither bill made it out of committee.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S306

"They failed to act this past legislative cycle," said Iridian Riccobono Lucas. This is their opportunity now, this is their opportunity to make good on some of the promises that they made but they did not keep during the legislative session."

As of now, it’s unclear if a special session will happen. The decision remains up to the governor and top legislative leaders.