Nassau County Leader Claims $4.5 Billion Spent on Migrants Could Fund Schools and Hospitals Instead

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stated Saturday that he respects Rep. Elise Stefanik’s decision to drop out of the New York governor’s race and step away from Congress, and positioned himself as the top GOP alternative to Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul.

“People don’t realize that when you’re in a public life, you live in a fishbowl,” Blakeman said, adding that a statewide campaign is “24-seven from now until Election Day.” He described Rep. Stefanik as “an excellent, excellent public official” and predicted she would return to politics, emphasizing that “spending more time with your family is something that I think is on a lot of minds of people.”

Blakeman detailed his campaign’s focus on public safety, affordability, and opposition to New York’s sanctuary policies. He noted he has expanded law enforcement capacity in Nassau County by hiring 400 new police officers and 200 new corrections officers over the past three years without raising taxes for four consecutive years, earning seven bond upgrades from Wall Street rating agencies due to fiscal discipline.

Blakeman accused Governor Hochul of turning New York into a “sanctuary state,” criticizing what he described as billions in taxpayer spending on migrants who have been in the country illegally for only short periods. “She spent $4.5 billion of taxpayer money giving people who have been here for 15 minutes,” Blakeman said, adding that these individuals received free lodging, food, transportation, and cell phones. He argued the funds should instead be directed toward cutting taxes, infrastructure investments, hospitals, and schools.

Blakeman also warned about New York City politics following Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s victory, stating: “Let me say this as governor, I will put a check on Mamdani if he doesn’t enforce the law in New York City.” He pledged to use state police or the National Guard if necessary to ensure lawful enforcement.

He warned that socialist-style policies would harm New York City’s economy, calling it “the financial capital of the world” and invoking Winston Churchill: “As Winston Churchill said, socialism is nothing more than shared misery.” Blakeman vowed immediate action on immigration, public safety, and the cost of living if elected, including ending the sanctuary program and prioritizing economic development to boost household budgets.

Blakeman framed the race as a chance to reverse what he called failed policies in Albany, asserting New Yorkers want safer communities and government that addresses residents’ everyday needs rather than “handouts and government programs that do nothing to make their lives any better.”