Story perspectives

Hochul, Blakeman Clash Over ICE, Hyperscale Data Centers

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 4:06 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Taxes Raising Energy Costs

Governor Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman debated on a televised gubernatorial forum in New York City on October 13, 2026.
The May law ending ICE-local police agreements prompted a sheriffs’ lawsuit, and Hochul defended a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers.
Blakeman claimed taxes and surcharges for offshore wind and solar raise New York energy costs.
Communities, not the state, should decide on hyperscale data center projects, Blakeman argued.

Right

Sanctuary Policy Blamed

Governor Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman debated in a televised gubernatorial forum in New York City on October 13, 2026.
Blakeman blamed Hochul’s sanctuary stance for the ICE shooting, saying it endangers communities.
The county’s ICE cooperation (through informal channels) removed over 2,000 illegal migrants with criminal records, Blakeman said.
He added the removals occurred without raids on schools or churches.

Blindspot

A coalition of Nassau County sheriffs filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Governor Hochul’s May legislation that ended local police cooperation with ICE on civil immigration enforcement.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In 1996 President Bill Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which expanded federal power, created the 287(g) program and required 31 states to honor ICE detainers for about 100,000 undocumented migrants each year. That framework underpinned New York’s participation until Governor Kathy Hochul’s May 2026 law ended the state’s ICE-local police agreements, revoking its detainer obligations.

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Taxes Raising Energy Costs

Governor Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman debated on a televised gubernatorial forum in New York City on October 13, 2026.
The May law ending ICE-local police agreements prompted a sheriffs’ lawsuit, and Hochul defended a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers.
Blakeman claimed taxes and surcharges for offshore wind and solar raise New York energy costs.
Communities, not the state, should decide on hyperscale data center projects, Blakeman argued.

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