In Troy, New York, dozens of immigrant rights activists gathered outside the local county sheriff’s office Thursday protesting a visit from acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Matthew Albence. Activists say this is part of ongoing retaliation for New York’s pro-immigrant laws such as the Green Light Law, which allows for undocumented people to apply for driver’s licenses while protecting their personal information from federal agencies like ICE. Thursday’s protests could be heard through the walls of a press briefing room inside the Rensselaer County Jail, where Sheriff Patrick Russo, flanked by elected officials and law enforcement officers, blasted New York’s Green Light Law. 

Sheriff Patrick Russo: “One of my concerns is our border to the north. After speaking to members of Customs and Border Patrol, I was informed that this sector is the busiest port of entry on our northern border.”

Aide: “We’ll just pause for one minute until we get the noise settled.”

An aide then stepped in to pause the press conference until protesters could be pushed back.