(WNY News Now) – Senator George Borrello calls for an immediate halt to the National Guard’s deployment in New York’s prisons, warning of unsafe conditions and urging Governor Kathy Hochul to negotiate with striking correction officers.
ALBANY, NY – Senator George Borrello on Thursday issued a formal letter to Governor Kathy Hochul demanding an immediate halt to the reckless deployment of 6,500 National Guard members in New York’s prisons and calling on the Governor to negotiate in good faith with striking correction officers.
“This crisis demands real leadership, not reckless political stunts that put lives and safety at risk,” said Borrello. “Deploying the National Guard—composed of service members untrained in corrections—to replace striking officers is not only irresponsible but also dangerous. These men and women are being thrown into volatile environments without proper training, equipment, or support, putting everyone’s safety in jeopardy.”
In his letter, Senator Borrello cited alarming reports from National Guard members and their families, who describe inhumane conditions, lack of proper safety protocols, and dangerously inadequate training. A retired Air National Guard officer warned that Guard members with no corrections experience are being assigned to oversee some of the most violent inmates in the state—calling the situation “a powder keg about to explode.”
“The Governor’s claim that she doesn’t understand ‘what the issue is’ is nothing short of astonishing,” Borrello continued. “For two years, correction officers, their union, Republican legislators, and even the families of officers have been sounding the alarm about the growing crisis inside our prisons. They have warned about escalating violence caused by the HALT Act, chronic understaffing that forces officers into double and triple shifts, and the refusal to mandate body scanners for visitors—allowing dangerous drugs to flood our prisons. Yet, those warnings have been ignored.”
Senator Borrello emphasized that the only viable solution is for the Governor to immediately engage in serious negotiations with correction officers to address their long-standing concerns—starting with repealing the disastrous HALT Act.
“The safety of correction officers, National Guard members, and inmates alike is at stake,” said Borrello. “It is only a matter of time before this situation results in serious injury or loss of life. That responsibility will rest squarely on Governor Hochul’s shoulders unless she takes action now.”
Senator Borrello’s letter to the governor can be read below:
Dear Governor Hochul,
I write to you with grave concern over the decision to deploy 6,500 National Guardsmen to staff New York’s prisons in place of striking correction officers. This reckless move has placed untrained service members in an extremely volatile environment, jeopardizing their safety and further destabilizing our correctional system.
The National Guard is an invaluable asset in responding to emergencies, but these men and women are not trained corrections professionals. Their expertise—whether in logistics, aircraft maintenance, tactical operations, or medical care—does not equip them for managing some of New York’s most dangerous and violent offenders.
As one retired NY Air National Guard officer, stated in an email to the members of the Senate:
“NY State is sending logisticians, aircraft mechanics, truck drivers, communication specialists, carpenters, pilots, nurses, etc. into prisons to manage and care for New York’s most dangerous and violent residents… You cannot possibly replace a lengthy corrections training academy with a few days of emergency training and expect a good outcome…This is a truly dangerous situation and [just] a matter of time before it results in serious injury or loss of life.”
We have also had numerous calls to my Senate office from concerned parents of National Guard members, who report that their sons and daughters have been forced into these dangerous environments without adequate food, restroom facilities or safety equipment. They are unarmed, unprepared, and tasked with running recreation yards and escorting inmates—a situation that is being described as a “powder keg about to explode.”
Amid this chaos, your claim that you don’t understand “what the issue is” is nothing short of astonishing. For two years, correction officers, their union, Republican legislators in the Senate and Assembly, and the families of officers have repeatedly sounded the alarm. Press conferences, statements, and direct pleas have all pointed to the same dire issues:
• Escalating violence against staff and inmates due to the HALT Act;
• Severe understaffing, forcing officers into relentless double and triple shifts;
• The state’s refusal to mandate body scanners for visitors, allowing dangerous drugs to flood our prisons.
These concerns have been raised time and time again—only to be ignored. Governor, this crisis isn’t new, and the issues have been made abundantly clear. It’s time to stop pretending otherwise and take real action.
The deployment of the National Guard is not the answer and is only putting these young men and women in danger. What’s needed is swift action to secure an agreement with correction officers that will immediately address the unbearable conditions they have been working under for far too long. The most important of the needed changes is the repeal of the disastrous HALT Act.
It is only a matter of time before the current situation results in the serious injury or loss of life of a Guard member or inmate. That responsibility will rest on your shoulders unless you take immediate action.
For the safety of everyone involved, I urge you to change course before it is too late.
Sincerely,
Senator George Borrello
57th District, New York State Senate
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