After discussing the cost of living at a related press conference in Albany on Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked about Tuesday's new Siena College poll in which most New Yorkers said they want the state to support President-elect Trump’s efforts to deport migrants.

Hochul said the poll wouldn’t influence her, but she teased new and detailed policies around immigration and enforcement, saying the public, law enforcement and Washington need to know where she stands.  

Her position will be two-fold. First, she stated that she’ll aggressively prosecute criminals. 

“If you are on a terrorist watchlist, you have committed crimes, there’s a warrant out for your arrest from your other country, or you have the audacity to come to here and commit a crime in New York, I will continue to work with all authorities to make sure that number one, you are not deported immediately because I want you to go through my criminal justice system," Hochul said.

Hochul also stated she would protect law-abiding migrant families who have built lives in the state and who pay taxes.

“I will not allow for the separation of families and children and going into our schools and wreaking havoc among those who have been here a long time," she said. "We have taxpayers. People who have been gainfully employed and who are part of society and that is a difficult dynamic we’re going to look at. But it is very easy for me to separate out what I need to do as governor, who I’ll work with. I have to protect the people of my state.” 

The Hochul administration’s new immigration proposals will be released by the end of the year, or by the beginning of 2025. The State of the State address is scheduled for Jan. 14.