Floor SpeechNeutral2026-01-21

IN OPPOSITION TO ICE FACILITY IN HUDSON VALLEY

ImmigrationHousing

Context

On 2026-01-21, Representative George Latimer (D-NY-16) delivered a floor speech titled "IN OPPOSITION TO ICE FACILITY IN HUDSON VALLEY" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered housing.

Full Text

IN OPPOSITION TO ICE FACILITY IN HUDSON VALLEY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 14 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H1130-H1131] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IN OPPOSITION TO ICE FACILITY IN HUDSON VALLEY (Mr. Latimer asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to go on record standing beside my colleague, Congressman Pat Ryan, opposing plans by ICE to establish a facility in New York's Hudson Valley in the town of Chester, Orange County. The proposed site, currently an empty warehouse formerly used by Pep Boys, is opposed by Republicans and Democrats of that area, including Republican County Executive Steve Neuhaus, a U.S. Naval Reserve officer, and State and local officials on both sides of the aisle. The mission to warehouse large numbers of humans is the exact opposite of what the President and DHS Secretary [[Page H1131]] Kristi Noem constantly proclaim: to root out the most dangerous thugs and criminals. In fact, ICE is targeting the least violent people in the greatest numbers, who pose minimal pushback, with the real mission to scare all immigrants, legal or otherwise. America has existed for 250 years without mass detention centers, but apparently, Noem and her cohorts plan for a different America to start the next 250 years, one where masked, unmarked agents seize people without judicial warrant, whisk them away to remote detention centers en route to uncertain final destinations. When such things have been done in other countries they are called pogroms and ethnic cleansing. This is not America. ____________________

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IN OPPOSITION TO ICE FACILITY IN HUDSON VALLEY Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 14 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H1130-H1131] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IN OPPOSITION TO ICE FACILITY IN HUDSON VALLEY (Mr. Latimer asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to go on record standing beside my colleague, Congressman Pat Ryan, opposing plans by ICE to establish a facility in New York's Hudson Valley in the town of Chester, Orange County. The proposed site, currently an empty warehouse formerly used by Pep Boys, is opposed by Republicans and Democrats of that area, including Republican County Executive Steve Neuhaus, a U.S. Naval Reserve officer, and State and local officials on both sides of the aisle. The mission to warehouse large numbers of humans is the exact opposite of what the President and DHS Secretary [[Page H1131]] Kristi Noem constantly proclaim: to root out the most dangerous thugs and criminals. In fact, ICE is targeting the least violent people in the greatest numbers, who pose minimal pushback, with the real mission to scare all immigrants, legal or otherwise. America has existed for 250 years without mass detention centers, but apparently, Noem and her cohorts plan for a different America to start the next 250 years, one where masked, unmarked agents seize people without judicial warrant, whisk them away to remote detention centers en route to uncertain final destinations. When such things have been done in other countries they are called pogroms and ethnic cleansing. This is not America. ____________________