Along with being a Sanctuary City and preparing to dole out thousands of dollars in debit cards for illegal immigrants, the city was planning on allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections.
A New York Appeals court has ruled striking down the rule.
“We determine that this local law was enacted in violation of the New York State Constitution and Municipal Home Rule Law, and thus, must be declared null and void,” said Appellate Judge Paul Wooten in the 3-1 majority ruling.
The was passed in 2021 after being signed into law by mayor Eric Adams. It would have allowed an estimated 800,000 non-citens in the city the ability to vote in local elections.
The law was struck down by a lower New York court in 2022 but the Adams administration appealed their decision.
Republican Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, one of the plaintiffs, said, “During a time where nearly 200,000 migrants have flooded our city and streets, disrupting the public and attacking our police officers, my colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to protect our voting laws which were created for citizens of the United States. Democracy always wins and I am proud to say it was delivered yet again today.”
New York congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R.) described the right to vote in the United States as “a sacred right given only to United States citizens” and urged “left-wing lawmakers [to stop] pushing these unconstitutional and reckless measures that dilute the voices of American citizens.”
The ruling comes down amid the city of San Francisco placing a Chinese immigrant who is not a citizen on their Elections Commission.
Kelly Wong, is an immigration rights activists who came to the US in 2019 from Hong Kong.
“I am deeply committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of immigration status, has a seat at the table in shaping the future of our city,” she added.
