Radical Rhetoric by Sanctuary Politicians Leads to an Unprecedented 1,300% Increase in Assaults Against ICE Officers and a 3,200% Increase in Vehicular Attacks

 

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s message is clear: this violence and dehumanization of ICE law enforcement must end

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released new statistics on assaults against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement who now face a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.

Sanctuary politicians have created an environment that encourages rampant assaults on law enforcement.

During the first year of the Trump administration, from January 20 – December 31, 2025, DHS officials reported 275 assaults as compared to the 19 reported assaults during the same period in 2024. This is a horrific 1,347% increase in assaults against ICE officers.

From January 21, 2025 – January 7, 2026, ICE law enforcement officers experienced 66 vehicular attacks against them, compared to only 2 during the same time period the previous year. This is a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks.

“This unprecedented increase in violence against law enforcement is a direct result of sanctuary politicians and the media creating an environment that demonizes our law enforcement and encourages rampant assaults against them. Dangerous criminals – whether they be illegal aliens or U.S. citizens – are assaulting law enforcement and turning their vehicles into weapons to attack law enforcement,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Still, the brave men and women of DHS will not be deterred and will continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Anyone who attacks law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Below are just a few samplings of the violent rhetoric against DHS law enforcement:

• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called ICE law enforcement the “modern-day Gestapo.”

• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for ICE to “get the f**k out of Minneapolis.”

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for people to “fight” President Trump’s agenda “in the streets.”

• Governor Pritzker claimed the United States is "essentially" becoming Nazi Germany as a result of ICE’s heroic efforts.

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu compared mask-wearing ICE agents to a Neo-Nazi group.

• Rep. Becca Balint likens ICE law enforcement officers to “vigilantes” engaging in “kidnapping.”

This rhetoric is contributing to a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against DHS law enforcement.

A non-exhaustive list of physical assaults include:

• A pedophile and criminal illegal alien hammered an ICE officer in the face with a metal coffee cup, breaking his lip open with a laceration requiring 13 stitches.

• A group of at least ten violent individuals opened fire on ICE officers at the Prairieland Detention Center.

• A criminal illegal alien viciously bit an ICE officer while resisting arrest.

• A sniper indiscriminately opened fire on the Dallas ICE facility and shot three detainees, killing two and injuring a third.

• A violent crowd attacked Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents who were conducting arrests of rioters who previously threw rocks at federal law enforcement vehicles at a marijuana facility.

A non-exhaustive list of vehicular assaults includes:

• A criminal illegal alien and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member, Luis Jesus Acosta Gutierrez, rammed a law enforcement vehicle into a tree during a vehicle stop.

• ICE officers were targeted during two separate vehicular assaults in the Chicago metro area during Operation Midway Blitz.

• An illegal alien hit an ICE officer with a vehicle, nearly crushing the officer.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s message is clear: you will not stop or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The public can report doxing and harassment against ICE officers by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing ICE’s online tip form.

Pill Press Machines, Over 16lbs of Alleged Fentanyl, Meth, Cocaine and Oxycodone Recovered in Queens: Three Arrested

 

Residence Used to Manufacture and Store Illegal Pills Containing Potentially Lethal Drugs Across from Public School

Three men were charged with participating in a narcotics trafficking operation following an investigation that ran for several months and resulted in the seizure of three illegal pill pressing machines and over four kilograms (10 pounds) of fentanyl in powder and pill form from a residence in Ozone Park, Queens. Also recovered were more than two kilograms (over six pounds) of methamphetamine, cocaine, and oxycodone pills. The drug network allegedly used a residence located across the street from PS 377Q, S.T.A.R. Leadership Academy, as an illicit pill manufacturing and drug stash location. 

Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Christopher Roberts, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Task Force Division, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced the arrests of Isaiah CRUZ, Brendan LAO, and Adam EHRLICH following arraignments in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Late yesterday afternoon, CRUZ was arraigned and bail was set at $100,000 cash/$100,000 bond. LAO and EHRLICH were arraigned Tuesday night, with bail set at $100,000 cash/$300,000 bond for each. All three defendants are charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Second Degrees. EHRLICH faces an additional charge of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree. 

The investigation was conducted by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF) Group T54 and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s (SNP) Investigators Unit. NYDETF Group T-54 is comprised of agents and investigators with DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York State Police. 

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “This expansive poison pill production operation displayed boldness and callous disregard for life. Located directly across the street from a public school, it had potential to produce hundreds of thousands of potentially lethal pills which looked like legitimate pharmaceuticals with industrial capacity pill presses. I thank the investigators and agents who diligently tracked it down before any lives were lost.” 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “Illegal drugs and unregulated narcotics wreak havoc on our communities, destroying lives and shattering families. The allegations in this case are particularly egregious as three individuals are accused of operating a pill mill with fentanyl, cocaine and other dangerous substances recovered right across the street from a school. This kind of reckless, criminal activity places our children and entire neighborhoods at risk. I thank Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan, the DEA, State Police, and the NYPD for their work on this case.” 

“This past Monday, the DEA New York Task Force Division along with our law enforcement partners conducted another successful operation resulting in three arrests and shutting down another illegal pill mill operating near a school in Queens” stated DEA New York Task Force Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “The seizure of three pill press machines and over 10 pounds of fentanyl powder and pills, reaffirms DEA’s unwavering commitment to targeting those who manufacture and distribute these deadly drugs. Through DEA’s Fentanyl Free America campaign and our ongoing enforcement initiatives, we will continue to hold those responsible accountable and bring them to justice. This is about saving lives.” 

“This operation allegedly used industrial-grade pill presses to manufacture and distribute lethal narcotics from a residence directly across the street from a public school – a reckless and dangerous enterprise that put lives at risk,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “The seizure of fentanyl and other deadly drugs, along with large-scale pill-manufacturing equipment, underscores the sophistication of this network and the urgency of taking it down. I thank our investigators in the NYPD, and our partners at the DEA, the New York State Police, the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office, and the Queens District Attorney’s Office for their work to keep these poisons off our streets and out of our communities.” 

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “I commend the vital collaborative work of our members and law enforcement partners in the relentless effort to keep illegal drugs off our streets. These arrests reinforce that we will continue to be vigilant in stopping the flow of these dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods. Each arrest, each seizure is saving lives and decreases the additional crime that surrounds these illegal and dangerous operations.” 

During the investigation, agents and investigators developed information that CRUZ, LAO and EHRLICH were engaged in narcotics trafficking and observed all three men repeatedly entering and exiting 150-28 Raleigh Street, Apartment 2, an Ozone Park residence which they allegedly shared.

As detailed in a criminal complaint filed in Manhattan Criminal Court, on Monday evening agents and officers conducted court authorized searches of the Raleigh Street residence and a second location in Ozone Park, a self-storage unit located at 103-39 98th Street. 

CRUZ was arrested on Monday afternoon at approximately 3:15 p.m. a few blocks from 150-28 Raleigh Street, inside a vehicle on Centreville Street. LAO was taken into custody in front of 150-28 Raleigh Street that evening at approximately 8 p.m. as agents and officers prepared to conduct the court authorized search of Apartment 2. 

Inside the Raleigh Street residence, agents and officers recovered two pill presses, including a manual pill press and a large automatic/mechanical pill press, from the living room. A third pill press of the automatic type was found inside a bedroom. Automatic pill presses can produce thousands of pills in a short amount of time, while manual pill presses create individual pills. Agents and officers seized a variety of molds used to press different shaped pills, including those used to manufacture counterfeit oxycodone pills. 

The kitchen and the living room areas contained a variety of pills in different shapes and colors, including those resembling oxycodone. The kitchen also allegedly contained large quantities of powdered narcotics believed to be fentanyl and cocaine, and a large amount of crystal methamphetamine, according to field tests performed on the substances at the location. Pill presses 3 and narcotics were found in plain view in the apartment’s common areas, and various forms of official identification were recovered from the residence. 

EHRLICH was arrested at approximately 5 p.m. on Monday in the vicinity of a self-storage unit at 103- 39 98th Street, Unit 3177. At approximately 7:52 p.m., a search of the storage unit resulted in the seizure of a large amount of marijuana and approximately four kilograms (over eight pounds) of psilocybin mushrooms. ERLICH is charged in connection with the seized psilocybin mushrooms in addition to the drugs found in the Raleigh Street residence. 

DEA laboratory analysis on the substances recovered during both court authorized searches are pending. 

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan thanked Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and commended SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau and Investigators Unit, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police for their work on the investigation. 

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Defendants Charges Isaiah Cruz Queens, NY Age: 26 CPCS 1st – 1 ct CPCS 2nd – 1 ct Brendan Lao Queens, NY Age: 26 CPCS 1st – 1 ct CPCS 2nd – 1 ct Adam Ehrlich Queens, NY Age: 24 CPCS 1st – 1 ct CPCS 2nd – 1 ct

Bronx Woman Sentenced In Nationwide Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to 51 months in prison for perpetrating a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, which resulted in losses of over $1.6 million to more than 20 victims.  GIBBS pled guilty in September 2025 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. 

“Fraudsters who prey on our most vulnerable must be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This sentence reinforces that message.”

According to the Superseding Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:

From at least 2019 through at least 2023, GIBBS and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the “Elder Fraud Scheme”), through which GIBBS and her co-conspirators defrauded more than 20 elderly victims of more than $1.6 million.  Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name—e.g., “Robert James,” “Robert Hill,” or “Mark Miller”—claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize.  The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings.  In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller.  After luring in victims with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of the Elder Fraud Scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments.

Of the more than $1.6 million lost by victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme, at least $1,379,402 went to Gibbs, or accounts belonging to or controlled by Gibbs.  Gibbs, a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica. Gibbs used proceeds obtained from victims to, among other things, fund a clothing business she started called “Fairy’s Crown” and make numerous purchases of luxury items.

After her arrest, Gibbs twice met with federal law enforcement officers and falsely denied participating in the Elder Fraud Scheme and claimed to be a victim of the scheme.  For example, on each occasion, Gibbs falsely told law enforcement officers that she had received calls from men named “Simon” and “Peter” saying that she had won an $8.5 million prize and that she was given instructions to pay taxes required to receive the money.  Gibbs also falsely stated that she believed the money she had received from actual victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme was money from “sponsors” who were helping her pay taxes to obtain her sweepstakes prize.

In addition to the prison term, GIBBS, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Division.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in the investigation.

Oklahoma Medical Supply Company Owner Indicted for $30M Health Care Fraud Scheme

 

An indictment was unsealed in the Middle District of Florida today charging an Oklahoma chiropractor and medical supply company owner for his role in a conspiracy to submit fraudulent claims to multiple federal health care programs for orthotic braces and other durable medical equipment (DME), and for the theft of government funds intended to support health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the indictment, Mark Loftis, 38, of Cushing, Oklahoma, was the owner of a medical supply company called Back Pain Home Supplies LLC, which did business as EZ Medical Supply. As alleged, Loftis paid illegal kickbacks to marketers in exchange for the referral of Medicare patients, and to marketers and telemedicine companies in exchange for signed doctors’ orders that could be used to support claims to health care benefit programs. The telemedicine providers did not engage in meaningful evaluation of the patients before signing the orders. Loftis allegedly caused Back Pain to bill Medicare, TRICARE (the health care benefit program for U.S. service members and their families), and CHAMPVA (the health care benefit program for spouses and children of permanently disabled veterans) for DME that was medically unnecessary, obtained through the payment of illegal kickbacks, and not provided as billed. In total, Back Pain submitted approximately $30 million in false and fraudulent claims, for which the three health care programs paid approximately $8 million.

As further alleged, Loftis converted for his own use and the use of others money he received from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. PRF funds were appropriated to help health care providers that were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to provide care to patients who were suffering from COVID-19 and compensate providers for the cost of that care. As alleged, Loftis received more than $133,000 in PRF funds and then falsely attested to a series of conditions to retain the funds, including that he would use the funds for health care expenses and to replace revenue lost due to the pandemic. In reality, Loftis used a portion of the funds to further the DME fraud scheme and for a variety of personal expenses.

Loftis is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to offer, pay, solicit, and receive kickbacks, and two counts of theft of government property. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the health care and wire fraud conspiracy count, five years in prison on the conspiracy and kickback count, and 10 years in prison on each of the theft of government property counts. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Jason Sargenski of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge David Spilker of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.

FBI, HHS-OIG, DCIS, and VA-OIG are investigating the case.

Acting Assistant Chief Catherine Wagner of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Seven Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Their Participation in Transnational Telemarketing Scheme that Defrauded Victims of More Than $12 Million

 

Defendants Laundered Funds Fraudulently Obtained by Co-Conspirators Who Falsely Told Victims That Their Money Would Be Safe From Hackers if the Victims Sent Checks to Them

In federal court in Brooklyn, Yveler Marcellus, Felix Marcial, Asheem Henry, George Mims, Rahmel Thompson, Daquan Mitchell and Tatiana Williams were sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon in connection with their roles in a scheme to launder money fraudulently obtained from victims of a transnational telemarketing scheme, many of whom were elderly.  The proceeds of the scheme were shared between the defendants and co-conspirators located abroad.

Marcellus, who was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy at trial in September 2025, was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment.  The remaining defendants pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud conspiracy pursuant to plea agreements with the government.  Marcial was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment. Henry was sentenced to 55 months’ imprisonment. Mims was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment.  Thompson was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Mitchell was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.  Williams was sentenced to a year and a days’ imprisonment.   

As part of the sentences imposed, the defendants were ordered to pay, in total, $12,488,884.33 in restitution. Additionally, the Court ordered the defendants to forfeit their ill-gotten gains as follows: Marcellus was ordered to pay $185,000; Marcial was ordered to pay $700,000; Henry was ordered to pay $240,000; Mims was ordered to pay $170,000; Thompson was ordered to pay $160,000; and Williams was ordered to forfeit a bank account valued at $229,274.02 and pay an additional $60,000.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York (USPIS), announced the sentences.

“This punishment was certainly warranted for the defendants who caused tremendous harm to the victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Through their callous scheme, the defendants profited by moving millions of dollars of victims’ hard-earned funds through their accounts and other accounts that they controlled and transferring a share of those proceeds to co-conspirators abroad who coordinated the telemarketing scheme.  Those who participate in fraudulent conspiracies and work with individuals who prey on the vulnerable will be held accountable for their crimes.”  

“These criminals selfishly preyed on vulnerable victims to enrich their lifestyles; but they underestimated the resolve of the United States Postal Inspection Service to continue to investigate this case until every complicit person was held accountable,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward.  “Postal Inspectors will work tirelessly to shut down schemes like this and any fraudster who seeks to take advantage of others. Too many seniors fall for these financial schemes, it’s crucial to protect them and their hard-earned money, and that’s what was done in this case.”

From approximately January 2022 through December 2023, the defendants and their co-conspirators participated in a scheme in which India-based co-conspirators contacted victims by phone and convinced those victims to send checks and money orders, addressed to the defendants and other U.S-based co-conspirators, to various addresses in the Eastern District of New York. The India-based co-conspirators fraudulently induced the victims, many of whom were elderly, to send checks to the defendants under false pretenses, including that the victims’ money was at risk of being stolen from their bank accounts.  After receiving the victims’ checks, the defendants and their U.S.-based co-conspirators laundered the check proceeds through their own bank accounts and other bank accounts that they controlled, shared the proceeds amongst themselves, and sent the remainder of the laundered proceeds to the Indian-based co-conspirators.  The scheme is estimated to have netted over $12 million from victims across the United States.

MAYOR MAMDANI & GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO LAUNCH FREE CHILD CARE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLDS IN NYC — GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS TO DELIVER UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE FOR NEW YORK CHILDREN UNDER FIVE

 

Governor Will Partner with Mayor Mamdani to Deliver Full Promise of City’s 3K Program 

  

Affordable Childcare for Nearly 100,000 Additional Children Through Statewide Universal Pre-K, Launch of 2-Care, New Community Care Programs, and Expanded Access to Targeted Child Care Subsidies 

  

All Four-Year-Old Children in New York State to Have Pre-K Access by the 2028-29 School Year 

Governor Hochul today announced an unprecedented investment as the next step to deliver affordable, universal childcare for children under five years of age across New York State. The Governor will partner with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to deliver free child care for two-year-olds in New York City, in addition to strengthening the existing 3K program to achieve universal care and ultimately, serve all families across the city.   

  

In 2026, the state will continue to expand access to high-quality child care programs throughout the state, through a diversity of models, saving New York families billions of dollars each year. Since taking office, Governor Hochul has already taken major steps to expand access to affordable child care for families through an $8 billion dollar investment in the state’s child care infrastructure, dramatically expanding access, as part of laying the groundwork for the implementation of universal child care statewide. 

  

“There’s one thing that every family in New York can agree on, the cost of childcare is simply too high,” Governor Hochul said. “As New York’s first mom Governor, fighting for New York’s families has always been at the core of my agenda. Since taking office, I’ve put families front and center, fighting to make our state more affordable and laying the groundwork to deliver universal childcare. Today, I’m proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani and leaders across our state to make this a reality, turning that foundation into a concrete roadmap that will transform the lives of working parents and kids across our state.”  

  

“Over the past 14 months, a movement was born to fight for a city where every New Yorker could afford a life of dignity and every family could afford to raise their kids. Today, Governor Hochul and I meet that movement as we celebrate our joint commitment to universal child care,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. “This victory represents much more than a triumph of city and state government working in partnership—it is proof that when New Yorkers come together, we can transform the way government serves working families.” 

  

Governor Hochul’s State of the State investments will commit to delivering affordable childcare for nearly 100,000 more kids. 

  

•   Make Pre-K truly universal statewide,  

•   Partner with New York City to launch the new Mayor’s signature 2-Care program and finally realize the promise of universal 3K access in New York City, 

•   Support other counties in building out new child care pilots that offer high-quality affordable care to families regardless of income, and  

•   Expand child care subsidies to tens of thousands of additional families. 

 

Alongside these commitments, the Governor will launch an Office of Child Care and Early Education to steer the implementation of high-quality, universal child care for New York families.  

  

Today’s announcement builds on steps that Governor Hochul has taken to expand access to affordable child care for families, laying the groundwork for the implementation of universal child care statewide. Specifically, the State has already: 

  

•   More than doubled the number of children served by child care vouchers in just four years, with an almost 25% increase in the past 12 months alone. 

•   Provided more than $8.6 billion for child care, including more than doubling funding for subsidies. 

•   Dramatically expanded the number of families who are eligible by increasing the maximum income from 200 percent of Federal poverty level (roughly $64,000 for a family of four) to the maximum allowed under Federal law – 85 percent of Statewide median income (roughly $114,000 for a family of four). 

•   Made child care more affordable by reducing the amount those receiving subsidy pay by capping costs at $15 per week for most families. 

•   Increased reimbursement rates for providers by nearly 50%, helping providers retain staff and provide quality care for children across the state.  

•   Supported the future creation of thousands of child care seats and new centers through more than $150M in capital funding. 

 

Achieving Truly Universal Pre-K 

While four year olds in some parts of New York have long had access to pre-k, there are dozens of school districts that have not yet been able to make it available. Governor Hochul is providing additional support to ensure truly universal Pre-K for all four-year-olds in the State by the start of the 2028-2029 school year.  

  

The State will not only fund additional seats to achieve universality but will also increase funding for existing seats, bringing them up to the greater of $10,000 or the applicable school district’s current selected foundation aid per pupil, so that districts have what they need to provide high-quality Pre-K. This combination reflects a commitment of roughly a half-billion dollars and will ensure that every child in New York State enters kindergarten ready to learn.  

  

Launching 2-Care and Reaching Universal 3k Access in NYC 

New York City has already launched universal Pre-K and 3K, and Governor Hochul will partner with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to age this program down and launch an unprecedented initiative to offer entirely free child care for two-year-olds within New York City. The Governor is committing to fully fund the first two years of the city’s implementation. As envisioned by the incoming mayoral administration, the first year of the program will focus on high-need areas selected by New York City and expand to serve all interested families across the city by year 4. In addition, the Governor will partner with the Mayor to strengthen and fix the city’s 3K program and ensure it achieves its promise of universal access. 

  

Continuing Access to Low-Cost, Affordable Child Care Assistance Programs  

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has more than doubled investment in the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which provides subsidies to help low-income families access child care. By dramatically increasing the State’s investments in the program while expanding eligibility, the program now supports 2.5 times more children – an additional 100,000 – than when Governor Hochul took office; the number of children served has increased by almost 25% in the past year alone. Most of the families of the 170,000 children served by the program pay no more than $15 a week for child care.  

  

This year, Governor Hochul will continue to grow the State’s investment in child care subsidies for those that need it most with a $1.2 billion increased investment, bringing the total available for subsidies to over $3 billion. This is more than 3.5 times more than the $832 million provided prior to the Governor taking office, and a nearly 40 percent increase from what was made available in the FY 2026 Enacted Budget. 

  

Piloting Innovative Community Care Models Across New York Counties 

In 2026, Governor Hochul will launch innovative new pilot projects for children in counties outside of New York City that are also ready to launch child care in more expansive ways in their communities. The Governor will launch a new New York State pilot, designed to support counties in working towards universal access to affordable, year-round, full-day care for thousands of families across these communities, regardless of income. Programs will be a joint collaboration between participating counties, local child care coordinating entities, and New York State. 

  

Office of Child Care and Early Education 

A new Office of Child Care and Early Education will drive the implementation of high-quality, universal child care in New York State. The Office will oversee and support roll out of universal Pre-K, continued investment in 3-K, launch of 2-Care and other innovative care options, expansion and improvement of vouchers, and ongoing support for the workforce. 

  

Supporting the Workforce Through Early Childhood Educator Preparation 

Governor Hochul’s plan to strengthen New York’s early childhood education workforce include expanding existing workforce scholarships, seeking opportunities for new Workforce Pell grants, and directing SUNY and CUNY to take a number of steps to expand and streamline early childhood education programs. 

  

Expanding the Child and Dependent Care Credit to Better Support Families  

Governor Hochul will expand and simplify the child and dependent care tax credit to provide an additional average benefit of $575 for 230,000 tax filers. She will also undertake a thorough review of existing tax incentives for employers with the goal of helping them better serve the child care needs of their employees.