With his re-election campaign in full-swing, Cuomo must kiss the rings of the open border left-wingers who demand the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including his Democratic Party opponent, activist Cynthia Nixon.
But polls show average voters oppose the “abolish ICE” movement and support stronger immigration law enforcement.
Given his political nature, the governor is trying to effectively abolish ICE through his policies that obstruct agents from carrying out their duties, but not actually saying he wants to abolish ICE.
Cuomo has sued the Trump administration when families were separated at the border, threatened legal action against ICE and obstructed their enforcement efforts, and devoted state taxpayer funds to legal aid funds for illegals.
Yet, when asked in June if he supported abolishing ICE, Cuomo said no.
Then he claimed ICE was not “a bona fide law enforcement organization that prudently and diligently enforces the law.”
Cuomo trotted out similar talking points last night on MSNBC when skating around the real issue – should we enforce immigration law or should we not.
He told host Ari Melber he did not support calls by Nixon to abolish ICE and once again argued ICE is not a legitimate law enforcement agency.
“I think what has happened is that the president has politicized ICE. We want need a police force obviously that fights terrorism. We don’t want what we have in ICE, which is a politicized police force” insisted Cuomo, adding “that is what has to be abolished.
He then declared: “I will do nothing cooperatively with ICE.”
Melber failed to press Cuomo on how he can oppose ICE today but accept money for his political campaigns from donors with connections to ICE? Or fired the aides who have ties to Customs and Border Protection?
And he did not ask Cuomo the key question: do you support the mission of ICE?
Hopefully, voters will ask themselves those questions in November and any future election.