Can You Threaten To Report Undocumented People In NY?
There has been an increase in ICE raids since the new administration took effect in the beginning of 2025. Agents with the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement division have been conducting raids on immigrants, including those following the law and process. Certain people have weaponized ICE by threatening and/or reporting immigrants, regardless of their legal status, to ICE. But is it legal?
What's really crazy is that law enforcement agents are masked up like criminals. I legit cannot tell the difference between ICE agents and criminals. Folks often say, if you don't have anything to hide, you wouldn't be hiding. The irony is not lost on the fact that certain New Yorkers refused to wear masks during COVID but are now fans of masks. Who are the criminals and who are the law enforcement officers in the photos below? Or are they all ICE Agents? Or are they all criminals? As a law-abiding citizen, I am VERY uncomfortable with law enforcement cosplaying criminals. They should have nothing to hide if they are enforcing the laws.
Can You Threaten To Report An Undocumented Person?
New York State made it a crime to threaten to report certain undocumented immigrants to the authorities. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill (S.343-A/A.3412-A) into law. It gives protection to undocumented people in cases of labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Threatening to tell authorities about their immigration status is considered a potential extortion or coercion offense. Prosecutors do have the discretion to use the legal protection in cases that don't involve sex or labor trafficking, also.
Gov. Hochul spoke about the importance of the legislation to protect immigrants in New York,
"New York is built on the hard work and determination of generations of immigrants, and we need to support people who are trying to build better lives for themselves and their families. This legislation will protect New Yorkers from bad actors who use extortion or coercion due to their immigration status, and make our state safer against vile threats and intimidation."
Similar legislation has been passed in states like California and Colorado. New York's law is based on a model provided by The Public Leadership Institute titled "Prevent Extortion of Immigrants Act."
KEEP READING: Your Inflation Refund From New York Will Cost You
New York Senator Anna M. Kaplan spoke about how threatening to report an undocumented immigrant's status can have life or death consequences, which have especially been ramped up due to the increase in raids this year.
"For an undocumented immigrant who fled danger in their home country, being reported to ICE can be a death sentence, yet sadly, far too many people are willing to take advantage of our more vulnerable neighbors by threatening to reveal their immigration status in order to exploit them in some way. By enacting this long-overdue measure, we're updating the laws on extortion and coercion to ensure that immigrant New Yorkers aren't left vulnerable to such vile threats. I'm extremely grateful for Assemblymember Solages and her partnership in addressing this issue, and for Governor Hochul for ensuring that our communities are safe and protected."
