Hochul addresses ICE enforcement, introduces new running mate in Syracuse
“I think it’s sickening what’s happening to people working here in Syracuse.” Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed a host of issues, such as federal immigration enforcement, in Syracuse Thursday. She also brought out running mate Adrienne Adams. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in central New York, including the October detention of two SUNY Upstate Medical University employees, during a visit to Syracuse Thursday.
“I think it’s sickening what’s happening to people working here in Syracuse,” Hochul said. “These are not the criminals that Donald Trump said he was after.”
Hochul addressed the nationwide ICE protests and unrest in Minneapolis, after two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal officers last month. Hochul shared that she is “traumatized” when she thinks about what is happening to families. She claims Trump has done something that is “so disgusting to all of us as human beings.”
Hochul also discussed the controversial Medical Aid In Dying Act, passed by the New York state legislature last year, which she said, was a “really emotional issue” for her.
In December, Hochul announced she would sign the bill after reaching a “guardrail” deal, including mental health evaluation requirements for patients and electing a non-beneficiary to witness the request.
The bill was delivered to the governor on Dec. 31 and awaits her signature before being signed into law. The law would permit terminally ill people who are given less than six months to live the ability to request life-ending medication.
“This bill has been hard because it goes against my own religious upbringing and the sanctity of life,” Hochul said. “But I also know that there are a lot of people in pain out there. They don’t have to prolong a death that is inevitable.”
Adrienne Adams, the governor’s new gubernatorial running mate, joined Hochul for the conference.
Her appearance came one day after Hochul announced the former New York City Council speaker would be her running mate, establishing the first women-led ticket in New York state and fifth in U.S. history.
“It is such an honor to stand here beside her at a moment in time when all of New York is watching,” Adams said.
In 2022, Adams and Hochul collaborated on a plan for building affordable housing units in New York City, complementary to Hochul’s plan to build 800,000 new units over the next decade.
In an effort to challenge several initiatives set forth by Trump, Hochul said she is planning to build a “coalition of leaders” to help fight recent national issues.
“We have a lot in common, but we also have differences. That’s what we’re looking for,” Hochul said.
Hochul’s appearance comes a day before the 2026 New York Democratic Convention at the Oncenter Carrier Theater, the first time it’s been hosted in Syracuse in 44 years.
“I wanted this convention to be in Syracuse. It’s the heart of the state,” Hochul, a Syracuse University alum, said. “I took on a lot of fights as a student. In fact, I missed a lot of classes because I was out boycotting or on the protest line.”
