This bold proposal comes as a reaction to Donald Trump's threats of mass deportations, which have ignited significant controversy nationwide.

State Sen. Liz Krueger voiced her opinion, emphasizing that thinking unconventionally may be necessary. Krueger had floated the idea that northeastern states like New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont could perhaps join Canada, a proposal she initially mentioned even before Trump's victory in the election. According to her, the responsibility for Trump's presidency should not fall on regions such as New York that traditionally lean Democratic.

In addition to advocating for potential secession, Sen. Krueger suggested a substantial fiscal strategy to counter policies from the president-elect that she disagrees with, specifically the proposed mass deportations. She proposed that states withhold a significant portion of their federal tax contributions. New York, for example, sends approximately $362 billion in taxes to the federal government but receives only about $85 billion in return. Krueger argues that reducing the funds sent to the federal government could be a leverage point.

However, Krueger’s radical proposal has met with widespread skepticism from politicians across the political spectrum. The contentious idea is further complicated by the fact that a substantial portion of New York’s electorate—about 43%—voted for Trump in the recent election.

Meanwhile, several Democratic leaders across the country, including those in Illinois, California, Oregon, and Massachusetts, have pledged non-cooperation with Trump's deportation directives. Krueger’s secession proposal adds a new dimension to the growing opposition among liberal states to the incoming administration's immigration policies.