Weighing a run for governor, Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) distanced himself from past left-leaning positions Tuesday — telling The Post the border crisis had changed his view on immigration policy.
Torres, in a 2022 endorsement questionnaire from the Jim Owles Liberal LGBT Democratic Club, said he backed mass amnesty for illegal aliens, and a year earlier had bashed a program facilitating collaboration between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement.
But Torres said he’d since pivoted, calling himself “pro-immigration and pro-border security” in an interview Tuesday.
“If the federal government is looking to remove violent criminals,” Torres said, “the state should cooperate.”
But the congressman said it would be “inhumane” to deport undocumented migrants who’ve been here for years. And he said he supports the city’s Health + Hospitals program providing medical care to undocumented or illegal migrants.
In the endorsement questionnaire, Torres was asked: “What proposals will you advocate for the protection of immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?”
“I am in favor of: A) Granting citizenship to all undocumented immigrants the United States; and B) Granting healthcare to all undocumented immigrants,” his answer states.
And in a March 2021 press release, Torres issued a letter recommending the defunding of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program, claiming it “undermines trust in law enforcement within immigrant communities.”
In the endorsement questionnaire on the Jim Owles group’s website, Torres had also backed decriminalizing prostitution and supporting government-supervised “safe consumption” sites where addicts can shoot up heroin.
He also answered “yes” on whether he would “refuse money from police and corrections unions.”
Torres claimed Tuesday that his answers were “mischaracterized,” and that a campaign staffer, not him, had filled out the questionnaire.
Still, he said, “I take full responsibility.”
“It doesn’t reflect the views I had then and certainly doesn’t reflect the views I have now,” he said.
Torres disputed the answer in the questionnaire claiming he wouldn’t accept campaign donations from police officer unions, saying he welcomes their support.
He pointed to comments he made in 2022, reported by The Post, saying the defund the police movement is “dead” in New York City “and good riddance.”
The congressman — who has openly criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul as ineffective — also said he opposes safe consumption sites for addicts.
Earlier this year, he urged city officials to take immediate action against an open-air drug market on East 149th Street in the South Bronx.
A campaign spokesperson for Hochul — who could face off against Torres in a Democratic primary in 2026 – accused Torres of being a “hypocrite.”
“Unfortunately for his constituents, Ritchie Torres has proven to be a pandering hypocrite who is out of touch with New Yorkers on critical issues like immigration and public safety,” said Hochul rep Jen Goodman.
“While Governor Hochul announced sweeping action today to crack down on retail theft and protect our communities, the congressman spent another day grandstanding. Good luck trying to sell this extremist record to the people of New York.”
Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles club, said Torres’ response to his 2022 questionnaire speaks for itself.
“We send candidates the questionnaire and it is returned. We post it on our website. End of story,” Roskoff said.
Torres criticized Roskoff as the “ultimate hypocrite.”
“He pressures elected officials to forego real estate contributions while personally living in luxury housing developed by the City’s largest real estate developer,” Tores said.
“He advocates for defunding the police at the expense of communities of color while enjoying private security in his own luxury home. The people of New York are sick and tired of far-left luxury believers like Allen-Roskoff and their ivory-towered bullshit. “
Roskoff said Torres “sounded hysterical.”