Local immigration incident draws fire from state, federal leaders
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – A recent immigration incident in Rochester is now attracting statewide and national attention.
GOP State Senate leader Rob Ortt held a news conference Friday at the headquarters of the Locust Club – the Rochester police union – to sound off against Mayor Malik Evans stance on the issue.
Ortt and some Republican Monroe County legislators argued the Rochester police officers who responded to a call for back-up from federal agents on Lyell and Whitney earlier this week did nothing wrong.
'Law enforcement officers don't stop to think about politics when someone, especially fellow officers, call for help. What they do, they respond. That's exactly what RPD did, and they deserve our thanks and full support,' Monroe County Legislator Steve Brew said.
On Wednesday, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said the officers did not follow Sanctuary City policy that forbids them from aiding in a non-emergency immigration traffic stop, which Evans said this was.
GOP State Senate Leader Rob Ortt said any policy review should have been handled internally.
'The notion that the mayor and the chief would not only reprimand these officers for doing their job, but they would publicly shame them. That didn't have to happen,' Ortt said.
Ortt also took issue with Sanctuary City policies in general, stating they flaunt the law. Those with Ibero-American Action League said it's the law Sanctuary City policies are designed to enhance.
'Sanctuary City really provides an opportunity for those individuals who are working in the process of immigration status to feel comfortable to come into police and expressing concerns or anything that has to do with being taken advantage of. So, we want that relationship to be strong,' Ibero Chief Program Officer Lucia Colindres-Vasquez said.
As for the vehicle pulled over by federal agents, Ortt said those inside were here illegally but said he could not confirm that when asked where he got that information.
When News 8 asked Colindres-Vasquez where those people are now she said, 'We don't and that is another thing that raised a lot of questions, right? Because we don't know what's happening to our families, where they're being taken, if there is a separation of families, which is extremely important. So, we don't know.'
News 8 has reached out to federal officials on this and have yet to hear back.
Border Czar Thomas Homan sent out a post on 'X' showing his support for the Rochester Police Department and has stated that he plans to visit Rochester.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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