IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Stefanik and Hochul clash over immigration during Republican Congressional Oversight Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Did New Yorkers just witness a potential preview of things to come?

Though she has yet to officially decide on a Gubernatorial run, North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) didn’t hold back last Thursday against current Democratic Governor, Kathy Hochul, during a Republican Congressional Oversight Hearing.

Specifically, the hearing revolved around immigration, which was a key issue campaigned over during Donald Trump’s reelection campaign last-year.

As for how the two stand for when it comes to immigration policies, it would be safe to say that Stefanik and Hochul could not be on any further ends of the spectrum.

Based on video footage from the hearing, which was shared frequently across social media, Stefanik appeared to come across as very direct and aggressive while grilling the Governor over crime cases that have involved immigrants in New York – often times cutting Hochul off mid-sentence and even going as far to answer on the Governor’s behalf.

Though Stefanik tore apart the fact that New York is a sanctuary state, Governor Hochul responded by stating that many immigrants come here for a better life.

In fact, the Governor's office clarified that there is no sanctuary in New York for people who commit crimes. New York is committed to cracking down on gang members and violent criminals, and State officials cooperate with ICE and CBP in many circumstances.

According to the Governor's office, New York State can and will work and coordinate with federal immigration officials when:

• There is an active criminal investigation.
• An individual has been convicted of a New York State crime.
• An individual is suspected of an immigration crime.
• Coordination with federal immigration is relevant to the investigation of a crime committed in New York State.
• An individual is suspected of a crime with potential multinational dimensions, such as participation in international drug cartels and gangs.

Still, Stefanik disputed that and appeared not to consider Hochul’s response, going on to accuse her of “prioritizing far left sanctuary state policies.”

A full transcript of the exchange is available to read below (you can also watch it here):

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik: Governor Hochul on your first day in office, you signed Executive Order One. Is that correct?

Gov. Kathy Hochul: I believe it is.

Congresswoman Stefanik: And you extended this executive order, not once, not twice, but three times, most recently on January 16 this year. Is that correct?

Gov. Hochul: If that's what your facts show, I signed countless executive orders.

Congresswoman Stefanik: I would assume you'd know it's executive order one, and this is a continuation of your predecessor's sanctuary state policies. Correct?

Gov. Hochul: I want to be sure we are defining sanctuary state -.

Congresswoman Stefanik: I'll define it for you. "It is the policy of the state that state officers or employees shall not disclose information to federal immigration authorities for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforcement." It goes on to say, "Law enforcement officers may not use resources, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting and apprehending any individual suspected or wanted for violating a civil immigration office. Law enforcement officers have no authority in the state of New York to take any policy action solely because the person is an undocumented alien." That's a quote in your executive orders that you extended. Now, do you know who Sakir Akkan is?

Gov. Hochul: I want to get back to the first question.

Congresswoman Stefanik: No, I'm asking this question. Do you know who Sakir Akkan is?

Gov. Hochul: I want to make sure you understand that this simply says that we will cooperate with ICE.

Congresswoman Stefanik: No, it does not say that. I read what it says. And let me talk to you about the results. Do you know who Sakir Akkan is?

You should as the governor of New York State?

Do you know?

Gov. Hochul: Refresh my recollection.

Congresswoman Stefanik: He was an illegal migrant in New York, and do you know what crime he committed in addition to being here illegally?

Gov. Hochul: No, I do not.

Congresswoman Stefanik: You do not. This was widely reported. He found a 15-year-old girl threatened her with a metal pole, told her to get into the back seat of his car. He took her clothes off, and he violently raped her in Albany, New York.

Do you know who Sebastian Zapeta-Calil?

Gov. Hochul: I'm sure you'll tell me. There's many cases. Whether -.

Congresswoman Stefanik: These are high-profile cases, New Yorkers know about them and you don't?

So let's talk about Sebastian Zapeta-Calil. Do you know who that is?

Gov. Hochul: I don't have the specific details at my disposal, no.

Congresswoman Stefanik: Well, this is an illegal migrant in New York because of your sanctuary state policies. Do you know what crime he committed?

Gov. Hochul: I'm not familiar at this moment.

Congresswoman Stefanik: I bet you're going to be familiar when I remind you. He found a sleeping woman on the subway, lit her on fire, and burnt her alive. This is in Kathy Hochul's New York, and as I'm sure you are aware, and I'll remind you, that ICE issued an order to detain this violent criminal, but that was rejected by New York officials due to sanctuary state laws.

Now, do you know who Raymond Rojas Basilio is?

Gov. Hochul: I just want to say this: these crimes are horrific -.

Congresswoman Stefanik: Because of your sanctuary state policies.

Gov. Hochul: In all of these cases, we would work with ICE.

Congresswoman Stefanik: You did not in this case. They are walking on the streets because of your policies and your executive order that you signed three times. Now, Raymond Rojas Basilio, do you know who that is?

Gov. Hochul: I'm telling you this. I will explain the policies of New York. We cooperate with - I know you're -.

Congresswoman Stefanik: You do not. You do not. Specifically, ICE was told not to detain this individual and he burned a woman alive on the New York subways in Kathy Hochuls's New York. So I will keep on going.

What about Raymond Rojas Basilio?

Do you know who that is?

Gov. Hochul: I'm going to tell you our overall policy, which will address all this.

Congresswoman Stefanik: I'll tell you who that is. He is an illegal who molested an 11-year-old in our state because, again, of your sanctuary state policies. This illegal was shielded from federal immigration enforcement and able to commit this heinous crime, and what about Wilson Castillo Diaz?

Do you know who that is?

Gov. Hochul: I'm telling you this, we do cooperate fully with ICE in criminal projects - our sanctuary -.

Congresswoman Stefanik: You're not advocating for these victims, this is a five-year-old who was raped on Long Island in Nassau County. You are not advocating on behalf of these victims. You are shielding illegals, even in your opening statement your prioritizing putting illegals first. Rape of young girls, beatings of NYPD cops by illegals who are here under Kathy Hochul's failed policies, burning New Yorkers alive. This is Kathy Hochul's New York. It's one of many, the many reasons why you're hemorrhaging support from hard working -.

Gov. Hochul: These are horrific crimes and -.

Congresswoman Stefanik: They're horrific crimes that are committed on your watch. You signed this executive order on your first day in office. You signed it again and again this January. We deserve a governor who stands up for law-abiding New Yorkers, doesn't put illegals first, but puts New Yorkers first. I appreciate-.

Gov. Hochul: Rather than going after the viral moment, I suggest you -.

Congresswoman Stefanik: No, no, I'm standing up for New Yorkers. Rather than addressing the illegals in New York, you are prioritizing your Far Left sanctuary state policies, which you put in place with executive orders, instead of advocating for victims - a five-year-old who was raped - No amount of words is going to clean up your failed record, and these horrific crimes committed in a sanctuary state that you created. And with that, I yield back.

Elise Stefanik and Governor Hochul image.