NEW WINDSOR – Assemblyman Colin Schmitt (R,C,I, New Windsor), who spent last week at the U.S.-Mexico border, meeting with border patrol agents, local authorities, volunteers and immigrants at a family detention center, said he saw no signs of poor treatment of detainees.
The freshman lawmaker, who paid for the trip out of his pocket, said he saw no signs of exploitation of children by the US government. He did say exploitation of children by cartels is rampant with the “renting” of children and “a major issue that needs to be known and stopped.”
Federal authorities told Schmitt when detainees are to be released, the number one place they want to go is to New York. California ranks number two.
“That is attributed to state and local actions and rhetoric here in New York,” the assemblyman said. “A particular example that was brought up are the recent driver’s license for illegals bill. I voted against it, but it passed and it has been enacted here in New York. Federal authorities actually saw a surge in crossings related to that legislation with people specifically requesting to go to New York because of that legislation, citing the driver’s license.”
Schmitt plans to bring up his concerns about New York and the immigration issue to fellow lawmakers.
