Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in New York arrested a Mexican-born illegal immigrant who sexually abused a child after being removed from the country five times.

According to ICE, the criminal immigrant, 36-year-old Raymond Rojas Basilio, sexually abused an 11-year-old child in the U.S.

Rojas committed this crime after being removed from the country five times and then re-entering once again on an unknown date and at an unknown location, without admission by an immigration official.

The New York Police Department arrested Rojas on Aug. 28, 2023. He was then convicted of forcible touching of the intimate parts of an 11-year-old victim by the Kings County Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Sept. 20, 2024. The court sentenced him to 60 days of incarceration and six years’ probation and required him to register as a sex offender.

DRUNK IMMIGRANT KILLED 7 YEAR OLD MONTHS AFTER HE WAS RELEASED FROM ICE DETAINER

New York ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents then arrested Rojas outside his residence in Queens on Dec. 17.

U.S. Border Patrol first arrested Rojas, following three separate attempts to unlawfully enter the U.S. near Douglas, Arizona, in May 2002.

Border protection officials then arrested Rojas again on Jan. 6, 2012, at Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, when he attempted to enter the country using a fake Arizona Driver's License and U.S. birth certificate. Just days later, on Jan. 11, border authorities again removed Rojas after he attempted to enter the country using fraudulent documents at another port of entry in Nogales.   

New York ICE Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo commented on the arrest, saying: "This criminal has repeatedly shown he has absolutely no regard for our nation’s laws, as evidenced by his repeated attempts to unlawfully or fraudulently enter the United States."

ICE NABS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN ALASKA, WASHINGTON STATE, OREGON, TEXAS WITH CONVICTIONS FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION

"As this case illustrates, it only takes one successful unlawful entry to do irreparable harm to a member of our community," he continued.

He said that local "non-cooperation policies" in place had prevented ICE from taking immediate custody of Rojas following his sentencing by the Brooklyn court. 

"However, due to the diligence of our officers, ERO New York City was able to rapidly apprehend this public safety threat before he could harm any other New Yorkers," said Genalo.

According to the statement, Rojas is currently in ICE custody pending removal to Mexico. 

• New legislation in New York intends to crackdown on the black market for restaurant reservations.
• The law will restrict third-party agents from selling reservations to the highest bidders.
• New York's Gov. Kathy Hochul says it gives everyone "a chance to get a seat at the dinner table."

For the last few years, New York's dining scene hasn't exactly been a democracy.

From Reddit users scalping coveted restaurant spots for $1,500 to third-party agents using AI bots to hoard reservations and sell them to the highest bidders, eating out in New York evolved into a gamified legal black market where the biggest spenders stood a better chance at winning a seat at the table.

Now, a new law, signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, seeks to democratize New York's renowned dining culture.

Legislation S.9365A/A.10215A prohibits "third-party restaurant reservation services from arranging unauthorized reservations," per the governor's website.

It intends to crack down on the "predatory marketplace" that requires diners to either pay extra before they set foot in a restaurant or make it "inaccessible" for those who refuse.

"New York is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, and whether you're returning to your favorite local spot or trying out the latest in fine dining, you deserve a fair system," Gov. Hochul said.

New York State Restaurant Association President and CEO Melissa Fleischut, echoed Gov. Hochul and said AI bots stockpiling reservations have "wreaked havoc" on New York restaurants by increasing "no-show" rates.

"Food and beverage orders, employee schedules, and many other aspects of a restaurant rely on accurately predicting how many customers will show on a given night," Fleischut said.

The bill doesn't impact legitimate reservation platforms like SevenRooms and Resy, which work directly with restaurants.

Not everyone is convinced legislation S.9365A/A.10215A will protect both businesses and consumers.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Jonas Frey, who founded the Appointment Trader website, said New York's dining scene will still favor the rich who can splurge on concierge services or book via prepay sellers.

"If Appointment Trader were to shut down tomorrow in New York City, no one that doesn't have a relationship or doesn't want to prepay $1,000 would be able to go to Carbone or 4 Charles Prime Rib or Tatiana for that matter," Frey, whose website will be impacted by the new law, said.

A plane crash on property owned by Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins Thursday left one person dead, officials in New York said.

The Buffalo Niagara International Airport issued an alert at around 11:16 a.m. ET that the aircraft had mechanical issues as it tried to get to White Plains, East Aurora Police Chief Patrick Welch said. The plane originated from Lansing, Michigan.

Around six minutes later, East Aurora dispatch received a phone call about a small plane crash in a wooded area, he added.

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The plane crashed between two properties and in "close proximity" to Dawkins’ house, Welch said. WKBW-TV reported it was Dawkins’ property, citing property records.

The offensive lineman was excused from practice for personal reasons.

Welch said fire officials responding to the crash reported a "fully involved fire" upon arriving.

BILLS’ JOSH ALLEN GUSHES OVER FIANCÉE HAILEE STEINFELD AND HER IMPACT ON HIS STELLAR SEASON

The pilot, who was the only person on board the 1979 Beechcraft A36, died, officials said, but was not immediately identified.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it would investigate the crash.

Dawkins, a three-time Pro Bowler, talked about the crash when he returned to practice.

"I still wonder why things happen in life, but tragedies happen all of the time. The biggest point about it is that I hope the pilot’s family is OK. I hope that they’re doing all right because somebody lost their life today for an accident," he said, via Syracuse.com. "I’m glad my family is perfectly fine."

The Bills have been preparing for a Sunday evening matchup against the New England Patriots.

Buffalo is 11-3 on the season, and New England is 3-11.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday submitted a notice that he would be filing a defamation lawsuit against a former aide, who previously filed a federal lawsuit against him for sexual harassment, claiming that she defamed him through the process.

"The nature of this action is to recover compensatory and punitive damages for the serious injuries and losses that Governor Cuomo has suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of the December 9, 2024 false statement by Bennett and her agents that Governor Cuomo ‘sexually harassed’ Bennett," a legal notice filed by Cuomo against Charlotte Bennett on Thursday reads. 

"Bennett’s agents tweeted this statement on December 9, 2024 with the headline: "Debra Katz and Charlotte Bennett issued statements on news that Bennett voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the SDNY against Andrew Cuomo, who sexually harassed her." Bennett reposted her agents’ tweet, which has garnered more than 90,000 views. The December 9 Defamatory Statement – which was intended to be and was widely disseminated and which was made in the wake of Bennett and her agents’ numerous prior public accusations against Governor Cuomo – was false and defamatory, and Bennett made it knowing full well that it was false and intending to cause harm to Governor Cuomo."

Bennett was one of several women to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment, which ultimately contributed to his resignation in 2021. 

CHRIS CUOMO SAYS HE VOTED FOR BROTHER, FORMER NY GOV. ANDREW CUOMO, FOR PRESIDENT: 'HE DIDN'T WIN'

"I would never want to be unhelpful in any way, and I think given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing, and therefore, that’s what I’ll do," Cuomo said at the time while denying the allegations against him and arguing that state investigators from the office of Attorney General Letitia James were biased against him. 

"I have slipped and called people ‘honey, ’sweetheart' and ‘darling.’ I mean it to be endearing, but women found it dated and offensive," Cuomo said at the time. "I take full responsibility for my actions. I have been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting."

"In my mind, I've never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn," he added. "There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn't fully appreciate. And I should have, no excuses."

Bennett dropped her lawsuit against Cuomo, which she filed in 2022, this December on the eve of her deposition in the case.

FORMER NY GOV. ANDREW CUOMO REFERRED TO DOJ FOR PROSECUTION BY HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE: REPORT

"Since Ms. Bennett filed suit in federal court in September 2022, former Governor Cuomo has used every opportunity to harass our client with an astonishing number of invasive discovery requests and outrageous statements in pleadings to embarrass and humiliate her," Bennett’s lawyer, Debra Katz, said in a statement as the lawsuit was dropped on Dec. 9. "These include requests for medical records for unrelated specialists, including gynecologists, optometrists, and others, as well as medical records dating back more than ten years ago from when she was a minor."

"This fishing expedition was designed to dig up material to smear our client and distract from the fact that Mr. Cuomo did, as the New York Attorney General’s Office concluded after a lengthy investigation, sexually harass Ms. Bennett and at least 11 other women.  It is also important not to lose sight of the fact that before engaging in his multi-year, multi-million dollar legal war against Ms. Bennett – funded by N.Y. State taxpayers – Mr. Cuomo apologized for his behavior.  At a March 2021 press conference, he apologized for ‘making anyone feel uncomfortable’ and for ‘whatever pain I caused anyone,’ and said, ‘I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.’ His apologies were empty."

Richard Azzopardi, a rep for Cuomo, praised Bennett's decision to drop the case at the time, saying that her claims "falsely smeared" the former governor "for years."

"Ms. Bennett's decision to drop her baseless lawsuit should be viewed as a complete capitulation and a desperate attempt to avoid being confronted with the mountains of exculpatory discovery – including contemporaneous texts and videos that the AG’s office never obtained – that completely refute her claims against Governor Cuomo," he said, in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

"After falsely smearing Governor Cuomo for years, Ms. Bennett suddenly withdrew her federal lawsuit on the eve of her deposition to avoid having to admit under oath that her allegations were false, and her claims had no merit," he said. "If New York State does give in to her public pressure campaign and settles, it will not be on the merits and should require the public release of all the evidence so that New Yorkers finally know the truth: Governor Cuomo never sexually harassed anyone."

Katz pushed back against Cuomo's notice of claim in a statement to the Times Union, saying it has "no merit."

"There is a long history of using defamation lawsuits to silence and punish accusers of sexual harassment," Katz said. "It is shameful that Mr. Cuomo has apparently now chosen to go down that path."

Fox News Digital reached out to Katz for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Cuomo's notice alleges that Bennett "cynically used" conversations with Cuomo to "advance" her career and that her "false allegations materially contributed to a cascade of harm to Governor Cuomo."

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a New York-based abortionist for violating Texas law by shipping abortion drugs into the state.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, however, is pushing back, saying a recently passed "shield law" protects abortion providers from prosecution by other states, setting the stage for what some call an abortion "civil war" scenario.

Paxton released a statement saying the out-of-state doctor "caused serious harm" to the Texas woman and explained he was launching the suit because "in Texas, we treasure the health and lives of mothers and babies, and this is why out-of-state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents."

The lawsuit, filed in the federal District Court for Collin County, posits that New York abortionist Dr. Margaret Carpenter violated Texas law and endangered a 20-year-old Texas woman by illegally shipping drugs into the state without first conducting an in-person examination of the woman to determine the gestational age of her baby.

PRO-LIFE GROUPS SOUND OFF AFTER TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOT RESTRICT ABORTION PILLS: 'SERIOUS AND GROWING THREAT'

Chemical abortions, which now account for more than 60% of all U.S. abortions, are known to present a risk of severe complications and infection in some cases. Despite this, the Biden administration further rolled back restrictions on chemical abortion, permanently allowing the drugs to be prescribed via telemedicine, shipped through mail and obtained at retail pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens.

Some states, however, including Texas, continue to restrict chemical abortion from being distributed through the mail or without a doctor’s consultation.

The 20-year-old Texas woman who obtained the abortion pills from Carpenter ended up being admitted to a local hospital because of a hemorrhage or severe bleeding as a result of the drugs, according to the Paxton lawsuit.

"Carpenter provided abortion-inducing drugs to the pregnant Collin County woman, which caused an adverse event or abortion complication and resulted in a medical abortion," the suit claims. "Carpenter’s knowing and continuing violations of Texas law places women and unborn children in Texas at risk."

HOSPITAL THAT DELAYED EMERGENCY ABORTION BEARS BLAME FOR GEORGIA WOMAN’S DEATH, FAMILY’S LAWYER CLAIMS

The suit requests civil penalties and a permanent block on Carpenter from sending more abortion drugs to Texas women.

However, New York state has a so-called "shield" law that explicitly protects abortion providers from prosecution for prescribing abortion pills to patients in states where it is illegal. This is the first legal challenge to be launched by a state pitting one set of abortion laws against that of another.

Hochul responded to the Texas lawsuit by saying, "I will do everything in my power to enforce the laws of New York State."

"No doctor should be punished for providing necessary care to their patients," she said, adding, "As Texas attempts to limit women's rights, I'm committed to maintaining New York's status as a safe harbor for all who seek abortion care, and protecting the reproductive freedom of all New Yorkers."

JUDGE BLOCKS NY AG LETITIA JAMES FROM TRYING TO SILENCE PREGNANCY CENTERS THAT PROMOTE ABORTION PILL REVERSAL

Experts believe the Texas challenge could eventually be bound for the Supreme Court.

Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media and policy for the pro-life group Students for Life Action, told Fox News Digital that she is hopeful the Texas lawsuit makes its way to the Supreme Court so that it could re-examine the question of national safeguards on abortion pills.

Hamrick said that though the Supreme Court ruled against re-implementing abortion pill restrictions in a case called AHM v. FDA earlier this year, the court made it clear it was not shutting the door on restoring the safeguards through another case.

"The Supreme Court did not say that everything with the pills was great, they could be sold as they were [and] there were no problems with the pills," she explained. "What the Supreme Court said is you need to go back and start again, you've come to us with the wrong victims, they didn't have what the court called ‘standing.’" 

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PRESSURING AFRICAN COUNTRY TO ADOPT LAX ABORTION LAWS IN EXCHANGE FOR FOREIGN AID: REPORT

"So, the three states have already joined in saying we have standing, we are a victim because we are paying higher emergency room bills because of these pills," she went on. "The state has a right to defend its laws. So, the state, on the face of it, has a right to defend itself and its laws and the laws of its citizens and its duly elected representatives. So, yeah, they have standing."

Students for Life Action recently launched its own challenge against abortion pills in the form of what is called a "citizen petition." The petition demands the FDA delay its plans to broaden the use of abortion drugs once again, this time to treat miscarriages, until the agency re-examines how the pills are contaminating the nation’s water supply.

"The Biden-Harris administration during COVID essentially created a de facto right to pollute and that pathological medical waste [from abortion pills] is going into the water supply across America, no one is checking on that," she said. "Abortion and miscarriage are not the same. But if you're going to conflate that and then hand out even more of these drugs without any environmental assessment, without any sense of the health and safety risks, that is reckless and dangerous and that is federal."

Multiple Missouri lawmakers are reportedly preparing legislation to name several highways after President-elect Trump in the new year.

The most expansive reported bill would bestow Trump's name on carriageways of the Missouri state highway system not yet designated otherwise before next August, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

That bill, from state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, however, exempts roadways in counties encompassing St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City, the paper reported.

Coleman previously floated a bill to rename a portion of Interstate 55 in her district the "Donald J. Trump Highway" in 2021, but the effort failed in the Republican-majority legislature.

TRUMP PICKS BILLY LONG TO LEAD IRS

Under both the defunct and current proposals, MoDOT would erect and maintain the commemorative signage, but private donations would foot the bill for the signs.

A separate proposal from state Sen. Nick Schroer, R-St. Charles, would designate a portion of MO Route D west of St. Louis the "President Donald J. Trump Highway."

"It’s time to Make Missouri Roads Great Again," Schroer said in a social media post announcing his bill.

The post included an inset of Trump doing his viral "Y.M.C.A." dance on the shoulder of a freeway beside a "President Donald J. Trump Highway" sign.

Attempts to reach both Schroer and Coleman for further comment were unsuccessful.

FLASHBACK: TRUMP SPEAKS TO SUPPORTERS IN MISSOURI

Fox News Digital also reached out to Missouri Senate President Pro-Tempore Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia.

In announcing her 2021 bill, Coleman said Trump deserved the honor for "strengthening Missouri’s economy, defending our values, and making America great again during his historic first term."

Missouri lawmakers have also tried to commemorate other national conservatives, including the late radio host Rush Limbaugh – who was born and raised in Cape Girardeau.

Language to commemorate Jan. 12 as "Rush Limbaugh Day" did not make it to the final text of a 2021 designations bill, according to the Columbia Missourian.

Trump’s name has made it onto a handful of highways outside the Show-Me State, including in some politically-unfriendly areas.

In 2019, a man "adopted" portions of Burke Lake Road and Fairfax County Rte. 620 in the deep-blue Washington, D.C., suburb of Springfield, Virginia, in Trump’s name.

The man also successfully had the incoming president’s name festooned on VDOT adopt-a-highway signage on heavily-trafficked Ox Road in nearby Lorton, according to the Washingtonian.

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In 2021, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation designating a 20-mile stretch of U.S. 287 in the state’s panhandle after Trump.

Meanwhile, Hialeah, Florida, Mayor Esteban Bovo joined Trump at a 2023 rally in the Miami suburb and offered him a commemorative sign after an avenue near a casino in the city was renamed Donald J. Trump Avenue.

In Trump’s home state, a controversial 430-acre tract of parkland also bears his name. Donald J. Trump State Park in Putnam Valley came into being in 2006 after he donated the parcel to New York state.

After Trump was unable to successfully develop a golf course on the site due to town permit roadblocks and the like, he passed the land on to Albany after originally purchasing it in two pieces in 1998 for about $2.5 million.

Donald J. Trump State Park soon fell into disrepair and remains largely unmaintained. New York Democrats have attempted to pass legislation stripping Trump’s name from the park, including a 2019 bid to rename it after the woman killed during the 2017 Charlottesville riot.

After Trump’s May conviction in his hush-money trial, New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal told The New York Times he hopes it "primes the pump" to restart talks to rename the park.

Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat, indicated he has visited the park and has seen "some improvements" since Trump gifted it to the Pataki administration.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Monday that he will move to advance drone legislation this week that will give local officials more authority to respond to the growing concerns of drone sightings.

Reports of drones flying over New Jersey and New York, particularly near military research facilities and Trump’s Bedminster golf course, have prompted lawmakers to press the Biden administration for more transparency when it comes to who is flying the suspected unmanned aircraft and why the government is not doing anything about them.

Schumer has called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to "quickly deploy" any drone-detecting tools that are available to help New York and New Jersey deal with the mysterious drone sightings that started a few weeks ago.

"This week, I will also come to the floor of the Senate to seek passage of legislation that will give local officials greater authority to swiftly respond to these sightings," Schumer said while speaking on the Senate floor on Monday. "The reports of the past few weeks have ignited immense anxiety and confusion for millions of people living across the Northeast. Thankfully, there is no reason to believe these drone sightings pose a national security threat, but even so they can be disruptive if they fly over restricted airspace particularly near airports or bases."

SCHUMER REQUESTS 360-DEGREE RADAR SYSTEM FOR NY, NJ TO DETECT DRONES

He continued, saying there was no shortage of reports of possible drone activity, yet there are few answers being provided about where some of the drones originated from and who was operating them.

Local officials lack the resources and authority to find the underlying cause of the matter, Schumer added.

NJ DRONE SIGHTINGS COULD BE A ‘CLASSIFIED EXERCISE’: FORMER CIA OFFICER

Along with seeking the Senate’s help in passing the legislation, Schumer also urged the DHS to take all necessary action to deploy as many drone-detecting resources as possible.

One of those technologies is the Robin Radar System, which, according to its website, notes "bird, bat, or drone, our 360° radar systems log thousands of observations, scanning every second to track and classify with precision."

DRONE MYSTERY CONTINUES IN NEW JERSEY AS EXPERTS OFFER NEW THEORIES ABOUT SIGHTINGS

Schumer said systems like Robin would go a long way to help local officials collect real data about where these drones are coming from.

"I want to see a flock of ROBIN-like technology systems deployed across the New York City metro area," he said. "So, we need the Department of Homeland Security to spring into action."

The House Intelligence Committee will receive a classified briefing on the drone activity on Tuesday afternoon, a source familiar with the matter told Punchbowl News. The news agency also said Biden administration officials from the FBI, Department of Defense, CIA, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence will hold the briefing.

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

Several economic experts panned New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s "inflation refunds" she plans to distribute to qualifying New Yorkers as part of her 2025 State of the State initiative.

Last week, Hochul proposed $3 billion in direct payments to about half of the Empire State’s 19 million residents: $300 for single taxpayers making up to $150,000 per year and $500 for joint filers making twice that.

"Because of inflation, New York has generated unprecedented revenues through the sales tax — now, we're returning that cash back to middle class families," Hochul said in a statement announcing the proposal.

However, some economists and economic experts, like Andy Puzder, said the move simply "redistributes [money] to people so the people will vote for them."

REPUBLICANS RIP HOCHUL'S INFLATION REFUNDS AS ‘BRIBE TO MAKE’ NY'ERS ‘LIKE HER’

"If you really wanted to help everybody, and if you have an excess of sales taxes, then you reduce the sales tax," added Puzder, the former CEO of the parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., CKE Restaurants. "It’s not difficult math," he added.

Puzder is a lecturer on economics and a senior public policy fellow at Pepperdine University who was considered for Labor secretary in the first Trump administration.

In his work at CKE Restaurants, Puzder increased the average franchise sales volume for the then-struggling Hardee’s from $715,000 in 2001 to more than $1 million a decade later.

The U.S. economy has been in trouble because of the same types of policies forwarded by Hochul and other tax-and-spend Democrats, he said – adding that President Biden’s American Rescue Plan was what lit the fuse on nationwide inflation in the first place.

"If you reduce taxes, fewer people will also be leaving the state," he added, as New York shed another population-based House seat and electoral vote in the decennial census.

Puzder noted a few top Democrats have warned their own leaders against such "refunds" from the government, citing former President Bill Clinton’s Treasury chief Lawrence Summers cautioning the Biden administration that similar handouts in 2021 would drive up inflation.

HOCHUL SPARKS BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE OVER CONGESTION PRICING REBOOT AS DEMS WORRIED TRUMP WOULD BLOCK IT

Former Rep. Dave Brat, R-Va., an economist and currently vice provost of Liberty University in Lynchburg, cited Nobel laureate Milton Friedman’s assertion that inflation is a monetary phenomenon.

Therefore, he said, in Hochul’s case, the better fix for inflation lies not in Albany, but in Manhattan.

"Inflation has to do with how much money the Federal Reserve prints. If she wants to give people money back from the government, that’s fine – but she’s in a prominent position in New York in that the Fed has one of its chief desks there and if you want to solve inflation, you go to the Federal Reserve."

He added that $500 for a family is a "trivial, symbolic move against a massive, hidden tax," noting that with an estimated 22% real-inflation rate over the past four years, $500 in 2020 purchasing power is only worth $390.

Brat added that Democrats’ penchant for such "refunds" put Republicans at a consistent political disadvantage because the GOP essentially has to "compete against Santa Claus" handing out presents versus the right warning the public to "eat their spinach."

Economist EJ Antoni echoed some of the sentiment about the refunds being inflationary themselves, saying that what got the U.S. into inflation in the first place was too much government spending.

"So this idea that we're going to add on another government expenditure, you're essentially just creating a feedback loop," Antoni said.

"Now, that's not to say that New York State alone is going to cause inflation. Inflation comes from the federal government, because the federal government is the one that can't create money, can print money out of nothing. But at the same time, you're still talking about increasing the cost of living for New Yorkers, just in a different way," he said.

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"Any additional government spending is going to have to be paid for one way or another."

Antoni added he could see such payments to the public "snowballing" into more and more payments down the line, which in turn would lead to higher taxes being needed to fund the handouts.

Antoni also said Hochul’s proposal differs from then-President Donald Trump’s COVID-era checks, because the latter came during a time people needed "money to survive" amid stay-at-home orders and various shutdowns of job sectors.

"If the issue is that we need to reduce people's cost of living, the best way to do that would just be to reduce their taxes, not have another payment by the government," he said.

Fox News Digital also reached out to the left-leaning Brookings Institution for a further diverse viewpoint on Hochul’s move.

Fox News Digital also reached out to Hochul's office for comment but did not receive a response by press time. 

As unknown airborne craft traverse the night skies in parts of the United States, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called upon the Department of Homeland Security to deploy 360-degree radar systems capable of detecting drones to the New York and New Jersey region. 

"Our local people who have questions about these drones should not have to shake an eight ball to get an answer," Schumer said, holding up a magic eight ball toy in one hand and an image of a drone in another. 

"They want real answers, and the Robin can supply those answers, and that's why we want them here," Schumer said, likely referencing the Dutch company Robin Radar Systems, which produces such systems.

NJ DRONE SIGHTINGS COULD BE A ‘CLASSIFIED EXERCISE’: FORMER CIA OFFICER

The website of Robin Radar Systems notes, "Bird, bat, or drone, our 360° radar systems log thousands of observations, scanning every second to track and classify with precision."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Sunday, "In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State." 

Fox News Digital reached out to DHS, Hochul's office, and Schumer's office for comment. 

DRONE MYSTERY CONTINUES IN NEW JERSEY AS EXPERTS OFFER NEW THEORIES ABOUT SIGHTINGS

"DHS responds to Congressional inquiries directly via official channels, and the Department will continue to respond appropriately to Congressional oversight," a DHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas said during an appearance on ABC's "This Week" that some of the sightings have been drones while "some are manned-aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones."

He said "we know of no foreign involvement" related to "the sightings in the north-east." 

2 MASSACHUSETTS MEN ARRESTED FOR FLYING DRONE ‘DANGEROUSLY CLOSE’ TO BOSTON AIRPORT

"Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so!" President-elect Donald Trump declared last week in a post on Truth Social. "Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!"

An adviser to President-elect Trump's campaign, Alex Bruesewitz, passed out and collapsed as he was speaking onstage during a New York Young Republican Club gala Sunday night.

Bruesewitz, 27, was introducing incoming White House senior aide Dan Scavino inside a venue in Manhattan when he began stumbling over his words and fainted, video on social media shows.

Several people quickly rushed to his aid after his collapse. It was not immediately clear what caused him to faint.

Master of ceremonies Raheem Kassam, also a former aide of British conservative politician Nigel Farage, later assured the audience that Bruesewitz was doing fine backstage and that he even asked if he "look[ed] cool" when he fainted.

TRUMP TAPS RIC GRENELL AS PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR SPECIAL MISSIONS, EDWARD S. WALSH AS IRELAND AMBASSADOR

"I talked to our friend Alex Bruesewitz and you know what he said to me? He goes 'Did I at least look cool?' I said Alex, you used gravity like I've seen nobody use gravity before in their lives," Kassam said. "But he's recuperating back there, so give him a big cheer so he'll hear you."

Trump also said following the collapse that he believes Bruesewitz will be fine, according to the New York Post.

"I know that Alex is going to be fine because he’s a tough son of a gun," Trump said. "There’s no doubt about that. So I want to say hello to Alex, because he’s a very special guy."

Bruesewitz is the CEO of consultancy firm X Strategies LLC, which states its mission to help elect "America First" candidates. Its website says he is "a prominent political consultant and strategist known for his unwavering support of President Donald Trump and the America First agenda."

The website adds that Bruesewitz "has been the driving force behind the efforts to defeat Republicans who fight against Trump and the MAGA movement and works to replace them with Republicans who fight for the values we hold dear."

DC RESTAURANT SERVER FIRED AFTER COMMENTS ABOUT REFUSING SERVICE TO SOME TRUMP OFFICIALS

Before his collapse, Bruewitz appeared to be OK while commending the New York Republican Club for backing Trump's campaign. He also gave shout-outs to several supporters of the incoming president who were at the event, including former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, who recently resigned from his U.S. House seat.

Other notable speakers at the event included former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and senior adviser to President-elect Trump, Corey Lewandowski.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, has filed a lawsuit against a New York doctor who allegedly prescribed abortion drugs to a woman in the Lone Star State, violating Texas law.

Paxton accused Dr. Margaret Carpenter of mailing pills from New York to a 20-year-old woman in Collin County, Texas, where the woman allegedly took the medication when she was nine weeks pregnant, according to the lawsuit. 

When she began experiencing severe bleeding, she asked the baby's father, who had been unaware she was pregnant, to take her to the hospital.

The filing does not state if the woman successfully terminated her pregnancy or if she experienced any long-term medical complications from taking mifepristone and misoprostol.

PRO-LIFE GROUPS SOUND OFF AFTER TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOT RESTRICT ABORTION PILLS: 'SERIOUS AND GROWING THREAT'

Paxton's lawsuit is the first attempt to test legal protections when it comes to states with conflicting abortion laws since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending federal protection on the matter.

Texas has enacted an abortion ban with few exceptions, while New York protects access to the procedure and has a shield law that protects providers from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions, which has been viewed as implicit permission for doctors to mail abortion pills into states with restrictions.

Texas has promised to pursue cases like this regardless of the shield laws, though it is unclear what the courts may decide on this issue, which involves extraterritoriality, interstate commerce and other legal questions. New York’s law allows Carpenter to refuse to comply with Texas' court orders.

ABORTIONS SLIGHTLY DECLINED THE YEAR ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED, CDC SAYS 

It is also unknown whether New York courts would side with protecting Texas' law, which prohibits prescribing abortion-inducing drugs by mail and prohibits treating Texas patients or prescribing medication through telehealth services without a valid Texas medical license.

Texas’ abortion laws prohibit prosecuting a woman for getting an abortion, but do allow for physicians or others who assist a woman in receiving the procedure to be prosecuted.

The lawsuit says Carpenter, the founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, knowingly treated Texas residents despite not being a licensed Texas physician and not being authorized to practice telemedicine in the state. Paxton urged a Collin County court to prohibit Carpenter from violating Texas law and impose civil penalties of at least $100,000 for each violation.

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"In this case, an out-of-state doctor violated the law and caused serious harm to this patient," Paxton said in a statement. "This doctor prescribed abortion-inducing drugs — unauthorized, over telemedicine — causing her patient to end up in the hospital with serious complications. In Texas, we treasure the health and lives of mothers and babies, and this is why out-of-state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents."

Carpenter also works with AidAccess, an international abortion medication provider, and helped found Hey Jane, a telehealth abortion provider.

A top adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams abruptly resigned on Sunday amid a federal investigation into a corruption and bribery indictment against Adams.

The adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, has had her phones seized and her home searched as part of the investigation. She issued a lengthy statement regarding her departure in tandem with Adams on Sunday, saying she plans to spend more time with her family.

"To my political partner, brother, and friend, Mayor Eric Adams: I thank you for seeking me out, way back in 2004, and asking me to run your Senate campaign. I thank you for seeing in me things that I did not see in myself," Lewis-Martin said. 

"I extend humble gratitude to you for encouraging me to be my authentic self and for having my back during some trying times. As you would say, this has been a good ride; I will use author’s license and say that this has been an amazing ride," she added.

NYC MAYOR ADAMS MEETS WITH TRUMP BORDER CZAR: ‘WE HAVE THE SAME DESIRE’ TO GO AFTER ILLEGAL MIGRANT CRIMINALS

Adams' statement echoed his aide's friendly tone.

"Ingrid has not been just a friend, a confidant, and trusted adviser, but also a sister. We’ve always talked about when this day would come, and while we’ve long planned for it, it is still hard to know that Ingrid won’t be right next door every day," Adams said.

"I, and every New Yorker, owe her a debt of gratitude for her decades of service to our city. While she gets to spend a lot more time with her granddaughter, I know Ingrid will still stay involved in moving our city forward from the sidelines as she continues to root for our administration and our city," he added.

VENEZUELAN GANG MEMBERS LINKED TO VIOLENT APARTMENT TAKEOVER ARRESTED IN NEW YORK CITY

The announcement comes just days after Adams met with incoming border czar Tom Homan. Adams has adopted a more aggressive immigration stance following President-elect Trump's win in November.

"It went great," Homan told Sean Hannity on Thursday night. "Look, I sat down with the mayor for well over an hour. He gets it. And today he proved that as the mayor in New York City, he's more concerned with public safety than politics. I wish the mayor of Chicago and the San Diego City council mayor and Governor Pritzker, I wish they'd all take a page out of Mayor Eric Adams' playbook."

Homan recalled how the "ex-cop" came out of Adams during their closed-door meeting Thursday in New York.

NYC HOME IS NEARLY 60K 'CRIMINAL' MIGRANTS: REPORT

"He really cares about public safety, and he's putting politics aside. He wants to help ICE take criminal threats off the street. He wants to help ICE look for national security threats. He wants to help ICE find over 340,000 missing children, which many are going to be in the city. So a great meeting."

"Hats off to the mayor for coming to the table and working with us," credited Homan.

Homan disclosed that since his meeting with the New York mayor, other leaders from across the aisle have reached out to him.

Incoming border czar Tom Homan will meet with New York City Mayor Eric Adams in the Big Apple on Thursday where they will discuss the city’s ongoing migrant crisis and ways of deporting criminal illegal migrants who have been terrorizing the city’s streets.

The pair is scheduled to meet at City Hall at 1 p.m. and then hold a press conference at 3 p.m., according to the mayor’s office. 

The main focus of the meeting is to weed out migrant criminals in the sanctuary city and deport them, as opposed to those who are undocumented, a source familiar with the matter tells the New York Post. 

VIOLENT VENEZUELAN GANG TREN DE ARAGUA SPREADS TO ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST REMOTE STATES

Homan, a hardliner on immigration, has vowed to enforce Trump’s promised crackdown on illegal immigration and carry out his mass deportation agenda. Homan has said he wants to primarily deport those migrants who pose a threat to national security and public safety. 

Adams has at times been critical of the federal government, including the Biden Administration, for its lack of financial support over the last four years as New York City has struggled to cater for the unprecedented influx of migrants -- costing taxpayers billions of dollars. The blue city has seen more than 225,000 migrants arrive since 2022, a surge that coincided with a spike in migrant crime in the city with the bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua getting a foothold in the city. 

Migrant arrivals have dropped sharply in recent weeks, with Adams attributing the dip to executive orders by the Biden administration that have limited the ability to claim asylum in the U.S. and have been tied to a sharp drop in apprehensions at the border itself. He also linked it to strategies taken by the city itself to help relocate migrants, including case management and offering tickets to 47,000 migrants so they can reach their "preferred destinations." 

Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding to sanctuary cities who do not cooperate with Trump’s deportation agenda. 

'WE’VE TURNED THE CORNER': BLUE CITY ANNOUNCES SHUTTERING OF MIGRANT SHELTERS AS NUMBERS DROP

The city’s sanctuary city status stems from a 1979 class action suit brought against then-Gov. Hugh L. Carey and Mayor Ed Koch that resulted in the "Callahan Decree" – which instituted a right-to-shelter for homeless men. It has since been used as a tool to attempt to shelter homeless migrants who have descended on the city. Adams has previously criticized it being applied to migrants. 

Adams has been taking a more hawkish approach to illegal immigration in recent weeks, announcing that 25 shelters are in the city and state are being closed in the next few months. He has also suggested that immigrants charged with crimes do not necessarily deserve due process.

"We’re going to continue looking for more sites to consolidate and close, and more opportunities to save taxpayer money, as we continue to successfully manage this response," Adams said on Tuesday.

Adams has taken a more muscular approach to illegal immigration than some of his Democratic counterparts in other blue cities across the country, some of whom have promised resistance to the plan by the incoming Trump administration.

He has indicated his willingness to work with Homan on the deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions while stressing the importance of work authorization, case management and protection from deportation for those who have not committed violent crimes while here.

"I would like to speak with our border czar and find out what his plans are. Where our common grounds are, we can work together. And I strongly believe, my history is sitting down with those across the aisle with different ways of thinking and sit down and share my ideas," Adams said last week. 

"I believe I have some ideas that could deal with this issue, and we can reach what the American people have been saying to us: secure our borders, address the people who are committing violent acts in our country and make sure that … our citizens are going to be safe."

Adams apparent shift to the right even left some speculating that Adams may rejoin the Republican Party, a prospect he didn’t rule out last week. 

Meanwhile, voters in the state of New York support the deportation of illegal immigrants, according to a new poll. The Siena College New York State Poll found that 54% of respondents say the state should support any Trump administration efforts to deport migrants living illegally in the state, compared to 35% of respondents who oppose the plans.

Strong support for President-elect Donald Trump's deportation plan was found throughout the state, including New York City.

Fox News' Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., whose once-promising career was seemingly destroyed by sexting scandals, is eyeing a political comeback and exploring a return to New York City Council.

Weiner, 60, who resigned from Congress in 2011 after admitting to sending women explicit photos, has filed to run for a seat on the council where he previously served for six years in the 1990s representing Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach in Brooklyn.

Campaign finance records list a campaign committee that was set up on Friday for Weiner called Weiner 25, in addition to listing him as a candidate for a council seat in Lower Manhattan.

ANTHONY WEINER MULLS RETURN: DISGRACED EX-POL SAYS NEW YORK CITY NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP

In a phone conversation Tuesday with The Associated Press, Weiner said he is "still exploring" whether to actually campaign for the office. He said he opened the committee late last week so he could participate in a forum held by the Downtown Independent Democrats later this week.

He said on his weekly radio show that he hasn’t fully decided on a run just yet and is considering the personal dynamics of a return to politics.

Responding to calls from reporters and listeners to his 77WABC radio program last month, Weiner said he wasn’t done with politics and that people in his neighborhood have approached him about returning to office.

"The way I always unpack these things is ‘What does it mean for me and my neighbors?’ The city has always been the way that I have looked at service. And, you know, we are Democrats. We stand up… for each other… we don't like people being victimized by bullies," Weiner said. 

Weiner said New York City should always be the "shining laboratory" of Democratic Party ideals and said that "for years we had Republicans running this town."

From 1994 to 2002, Republican Rudy Giuliani served as mayor. He was succeeded by Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Independent Michael Bloomberg until 2013. 

ANTHONY WEINER SPARS WITH WATTERS, DEFENDS BIDEN, DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM: 'CRIME IS DOWN'

The City Council, however, has historically been a supermajority of Democrats and currently has just six Republicans compared to 45 Democrats.

Weiner blamed part of the homeless and migrant problem on a 1979 class action suit brought against then-Gov. Hugh L. Carey and Mayor Ed Koch that resulted in the "Callahan Decree" – which instituted a right-to-shelter for homeless men.

He continued through a litany of things he would like to see improved about the city, such as being able to walk into a Duane Reade with his son and not find most of the store's goods locked up.

Weiner was once seen as then-Rep. Chuck Schumer's protégé and had a close relationship with his fellow Brooklynite. When Schumer gave up his House seat and successfully won the Senate seat of retiring Republican Al D'Amato, Weiner replaced him in 1999 and served 12 years before resigning in disgrace after sending lewd photos.

After his resignation, Weiner continued sexting under the pseudonym "Carlos Danger." The main recipient, Sydney Leathers, who was 22 at the time, claimed the former lawmaker referred to himself as "an argumentative, perpetually horny middle-aged man."

He tried to make a comeback in 2013 to run for mayor but was damaged by new revelations of explicit photos Weiner had sent under the pseudonym.

A few years later, in 2016, he was embroiled in another sexting scandal during which he separated from his wife, longtime Hillary Clinton confidante Huma Abedin, who is now engaged to Alex Soros, the son of left-wing billionaire George Soros. In one image Weiner sent, he was lying in bed with his young son.

Later that year, claims surfaced again, this time that Weiner had sexted a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina and his laptop was seized. Investigators found emails pertinent to Clinton's classified documents scandal that preceded her upset loss to President-elect Donald Trump.

Weiner later checked himself into rehab for sex addiction and in 2017 was sentenced to 21 months in his federal sexting case – which imploded his then-bid for mayor. He was released in 2019 and was ordered to register as a sex offender.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul's approval and favorable ratings are edging up, but a new poll indicates a majority of New Yorkers would prefer someone else to win the 2026 election for governor in the Empire State.

According to a Siena College poll conducted Dec. 2-5 and released on Tuesday, only a third (33%) of registered voters in New York state said they would vote to re-elect Hochul to a second four-year term, with a majority (57%) saying they wanted someone else.

Only 48% of Democrats said – at this extremely early point – that they're prepared to re-elect Hochul, with four in 10 Democrats saying they want "someone else."

WHAT NEW YORK REPUBLICANS THINK ABOUT DEMOCRATIC GOV. KATHY HOCHUL'S ‘INFLATION REFUNDS’

The percentage of voters who prefer another candidate jumps to 65% among independents and 85% among Republicans.

Hochul, who at the time was the state’s lieutenant governor, in August 2021 was sworn in as New York’s first female governor, after three-term Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace amid multiple scandals.

WHAT NEW YORKERS THINK ABOUT TRUMP'S DEPORTATION PLAN

She defeated then-Rep. Lee Zeldin by just over six points in 2022 to win a full four-year term steering New York. Zeldin's showing was the best by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in blue-state New York since then-GOP Gov. George Pataki won re-election to a third term in 2002.

In July, Hochul announced her intention to run for re-election in 2026.

Apparently contributing to Hochul's polling woes is the governor's support for the New York City congestion pricing plan, which takes effect next month.

Most passenger cars entering Midtown and Lower Manhattan will now be charged $9 once a day to enter the congestion zone at peak hours, and $2.25 at other times.

According to the poll, voters by a 51%-29% margin oppose Hochul’s plan, 51-29%. That includes 56% of New York City voters and six in 10 downstate residents.

But Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg noted that "there’s some good news for the Governor. Her favorability rating improved for the second consecutive poll."

Hochul's favorable rating edged up from 36%-51% in October to 39%-49% now. And her job approval rating as governor also jumped from 41%-51% in October to 46%-49% now.

"The bad news is that both ratings remain stubbornly underwater. Hochul has not had a positive favorability rating since January of this year and she has never had 50% or more voters view her favorably," Greenberg added.

But he added that "voters say that all things being equal they’d prefer a Democrat over a Republican to be the next governor, 52-34%."

Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, who is mulling a primary challenge against Hochul, late last month took to social media to argue that the governor is "in grave danger of losing to a Republican in 2026 – an outcome not seen in 30 years."

New York Attorney General Letitia James said she will not drop the civil fraud case against President-elect Donald Trump as she waits for the appeal court decision, arguing presidents are not immune from civil litigation. 

Trump and his attorneys demanded that James drop her civil fraud case against him, his family and his businesses "for the greater good of the country" last month. 

TRUMP DEMANDS NEW YORK AG LETITIA JAMES DROP CIVIL FRAUD CASE 'FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE COUNTRY'

Trump was ordered to pay a $454 million civil fraud judgment in James’ lawsuit against him. 

Trump has appealed the ruling, and judges on a New York appeals court seemed receptive to potentially reversing the judgment altogether.

The New York attorney general's office on Tuesday said they are not going to take action to drop the case against the president-elect. 

James' office argued that presidents do not have immunity from civil litigation arising from unofficial conduct, and said lawsuits "may proceed while the president is in office." 

James' office also argued that the final judgment does not impact any conduct Trump may undertake as president. They also said Trump's inauguration is "irrelevant to the 14 other defendants found liable in our case." 

James' office also said that they are now waiting for a decision on Trump's appeal, and said waiting for that decision on the civil matter "does not in any way affect Trump’s ability to serve as president." 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the first initiative of her 2025 State of the State plan: up to $500 in "inflation refunds" for New Yorkers dealing with spiking costs-of-living in the Empire State.

The proposal would take $3 billion in "excess" sales tax revenue that had been "driven by inflation" and return the money to nearly half of the state's population.

Families making less than $300,000 would be eligible for $500, and individual taxpayers making less than $150,000 would receive $300 under the plan. The governor's office said the announcement is one of several proposals aimed at lessening the burden on New Yorkers' cost-of-living.

"Because of inflation, New York has generated unprecedented revenues through the sales tax — now, we're returning that cash back to middle class families," Hochul said in a statement Monday.

HOCHUL SPARKS BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE OVER CONGESTION PRICING REBOOT AS DEMS WORRIED TRUMP WOULD BLOCK IT

"My agenda for the coming year will be laser-focused on putting money back in your pockets, and that starts with proposing Inflation Refund checks of up to $500 to help millions of hard-working New Yorkers.

"It's simple: the cost of living is still too damn high, and New Yorkers deserve a break," said Hochul, offering a sentiment similar to that repeated by perennial candidate and Rent is Too Damn High Party founder Jimmy McMillan.

However, New York Republicans were not as receptive to Hochul's plan, as NYSGOP Executive Director David Laska told Fox News Digital the governor appeared simply out to make friends rather than bring about long-term relief.

"With her approval rating deep underwater, Kathy Hochul is resorting to bribing New Yorkers to like her," Laska said. 

HOMAN SCOFFS AT HOCHUL'S SUDDEN OUTRAGE OVER VIOLENT MIGRANTS

"Handing out one-time checks won’t stop the crushing inflation Democrats’ policies have fueled – it will only add to it. New York needs real, permanent solutions: relief from our highest-in-the-nation tax burden and a rollback of job-killing regulations."

New York City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli claimed that the $300 offered to middle- and low-income residents would still be less than what is spent on each migrant daily.

"[That] is not that backslapping win the governor thinks it is," said Borelli, R-Staten Island. 

Borelli added that the plan "looks increasingly silly" in the face of Hochul's successful push for congestion pricing and her borrowing "costly energy cues from the Greta Thunberg School of Energy Policy."

"Newsflash for Kathy Hochul," added Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., "Taking thousands of dollars out of New Yorkers’ left pocket and then putting $500 in their right pocket isn’t a tax cut, it’s an insult."

State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-Niagara Falls, said that Democrats like Hochul continue to make New York State more expensive despite pleas for relief.

"The governor's mindset is promising, however words are words," said Ortt, the top Republican in the chamber.

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Ortt claimed that it is his caucus that is the true voice for hardworking New Yorkers seeking "real affordability… not just one-shot gimmicks."

Meanwhile, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said Albany needs to "stop treating New Yorkers like bottomless ATM machines" with their new tolls and tax hikes.

Malliotakis' constituents now face an extra $9 "congestion" toll to enter Lower Manhattan, on top of an approximate $20 round-trip cost to commute on the state-owned Verrazzano Bridge.

"If she’d allow her constituents to keep more of their hard-earned money from the start, there would be no need for these ‘inflation refund’ checks to begin with."

Hochul's office estimated 8.6 million out of 19.5 million New Yorkers would benefit from the planned "refunds."

Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul for further comment on the criticisms.

Most voters in New York want the state to support President-elect Trump’s mass deportation plans, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

The Siena College New York State Poll found that 54% of respondents say the state should support any Trump administration efforts to deport migrants living illegally in the state, compared to 35% of respondents who oppose the plans.

Strong support for the president-elect's deportation plan was found throughout the state, including New York City.

"A majority of voters from the City, 51%, upstate, 54%, and the downstate suburbs, 58%, want the State to support the Feds' efforts," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said of Trump's effort to deport illegal immigrants living in the state. "Supporting the Feds also has majority support from white and Black voters, and a plurality of Latino voters, 47-36%."

RACHEL MORIN'S MOM PLEADS SENATORS ‘HEAR OUR CRIES FOR HELP’ IN MASS DEPORTATIONS HEARING TESTIMONY

The poll found that 51% of Democrats in the state opposed deportations, while 38% supported any such plans. Meanwhile, 87% of Republicans overwhelmingly supported Trump's plans, compared with 8% who opposed. Independent voters broke down with 54% in support and 30% who opposed.,

The New York Post earlier last month obtained data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that showed 58,626 of the 759,218 illegal immigrants living in New York City had previously been convicted of a crime or had criminal charges pending, or 7.7% of the city’s illegal migrant population.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates that 11 million illegal immigrants were living in the U.S. as of 2022, the latest statistics available.

TRUMP CLAIMS GOP ‘VERY OPEN’ TO KEEPING ‘DREAMERS’ IN US, TAKES SHOT AT ‘VERY DIFFICULT’ DEMS

Trump has promised to launch a mass deportation campaign when he enters office in January, where he will also have a Republican House and Senate. 

Ahead of that, some Democrats have been calling on President Biden to extend existing protections for some illegal immigrants – including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

Trump, however, said on Sunday that he wants to work with Democrats on a "plan" to help illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. as minors and were protected from deportation under the Obama-era DACA order.

"I will work with the Democrats on a plan, and if we can come up with a plan, but the Democrats have made it very, very difficult to do anything. Republicans are very open to the Dreamers," Trump said. "The Dreamers, we're talking many years ago. They were brought into this country many years ago, some of them are no longer young people, and in many cases, they become successful. They have great jobs. In some cases, they have small businesses. In some cases, they might have large businesses, and we're going to have to do something with them."

Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Officials reportedly found bullet casings with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" on them at Brian Thompson's murder scene.
• The words are similar to the title of a 2010 book about the insurance industry, "Delay Deny Defend."
• Police have not yet shared a motive for the shooting.

The gunman who shot Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, reportedly left behind a cryptic message at the crime scene.

Update: A "person of interest," 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was arrested in connection with Thompson's death in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday.

Multiple news outlets said that the shell cases found at the scene were inscribed with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose." These words are similar to the title of Jay M. Feinman's 2010 book "Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It," causing speculation that the shooter may have been referring to it.

The phrase "delay, deny, defend" is also common among lawyers who say that insurance companies delay the claims process with paperwork, deny claims that should be covered, and then defend themselves in court if a claimant pursues legal action.

The suspect of Thompson's shooting was still on the run as of Friday afternoon. Police haven't shared a motive behind the killing, which took place Wednesday morning.

Feinman, an author and professor emeritus at Rutgers, wrote about the insurance industry's evolution and shared advice for consumers on handling disputed claims in his book "Delay Deny Defend."

An NYPD spokesperson declined to comment when asked if police were investigating any link between the book and the shooting. The author also declined a request for comment.

Here are some of the key takeaways from Feinman's book.

There's only one mention of UnitedHealthcare by name.

While Feinman mentioned several top insurance companies by name throughout the book — State Farm and Allstate in particular — UnitedHealthcare only appeared once.

In the introduction, Feinman described how, in 2009, UnitedHealth, Aetna, Guardian, and other companies agreed to stop using certain databases to calculate fees for out-of-network treatment after being accused by then-New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of systematically lowballing patients.

Feinman says the insurance industry changed in the early 1990s.

In the intro to his book, Feinman wrote that insurance companies began to significantly reconsider the claims process in the 1990s when they "became a profit center rather than the place that kept the company's promise."

A major part of this shift occurred when insurance companies, including Allstate in 1992, hired consulting giant McKinsey & Company, he said.

McKinsey developed new strategies for handling claims and saw it as a "zero-sum game," Feinman writes. The insurance companies started using computer systems to estimate the amounts to be paid and deterring claimants from hiring lawyers, he said.

McKinsey declined Business Insider's request for comment.

Insurance companies aren't friends — but they're also not the enemy, he wrote.

Feinman said in the book that insurance companies aren't our friends — but they're not our enemies, either.

That's because companies must pay claims "pretty well most of the time" to stay in business.

"The point of view in this book is pro-consumer but it is not anti-insurance," Feinman writes. "Insurance is essential to our economic security." However, to serve as "the great protector of the standard of living of the American middle class, prompt and fair claim handling has to be the rule," he wrote.

'Understand your coverage. Understand the claims system. Get help if you need it.'

In Chapter 11, Feinman outlined what consumers can do to protect themselves while also seeking ways to cooperate with insurance companies.

He wrote that the responsibility to fix the system shouldn't fall to consumers alone. Legislators, regulators, and the courts must also step in, he wrote.

Feinman's advice boiled down to three key tenets: consumers should research the reputation of their agencies and policies carefully, understand the claims system, and seek legal recourse when necessary.

• UnitedHealthcare's CEO appeared not to have a bodyguard when he was shot Wednesday in Manhattan.
• Two security consultants told Business Insider that was unusual.
• Even if he'd had a bodyguard, it may not have saved his life, one said.

Two executive-protection consultants say they were surprised UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson didn't appear to have a bodyguard when he was shot and killed walking into a hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday — though one said it likely wouldn't have saved his life.

A "person of interest," 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was arrested in connection with Thompson's death in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Monday.

It's not clear whether Thompson had a security detail, but in the video of the shooting shared by the New York City Police Department, he appears to be walking toward the hotel alone. A spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Brittney Blair, who specializes in consulting executives about their personal security for the risk-management firm K2 Integrity, said she was "floored, honestly," that Thompson did not appear to have a bodyguard.

"I've seen a lot of CEOs and high-profile business leaders who sometimes feel that corporate security is maybe a little bit overboard," she said. "They feel — I don't want to say untouchable, but they maybe underestimate how much of a public figure they are."

Thompson appeared to live somewhat modestly relative to the $10.2 million he received in compensation last year, in a combination of cash and stock grants, Securities and Exchange Commission records show. He resided in a Minneapolis suburb, in a home purchased for just over $1 million in 2018, tax records show.

His wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that her husband had received threats.

"There had been some threats," she said. "Basically, I don't know, a lack of coverage? I don't know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him."

Paulette Thompson couldn't be reached for comment by BI.

Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent who now runs the private-security firm LaSorsa & Associates, said that an around-the-clock protective detail costs in the neighborhood of $100,000 a month. But, he said, even if Thompson had such a security detail, it might not have stopped a motivated shooter.

"I know it sounds extreme, but you're not going to mitigate a killing if someone's hell-bent on doing it to you. Sooner or later, they're going to succeed," LaSorsa said.

If Thompson had been walking with a bodyguard, LaSorsa added, "and they'd both had their backs turned, they both would have been shot."