New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on “Morning Joe” that the state has prohibited formal civil immigration-enforcement agreements between local law enforcement and ICE. Her aim is to focus officers on local crime.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expressed concern that the restriction will result in more federal agents being deployed to communities. This comes as 15 county sheriffs challenge the law in federal court.
“When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities,” the DHS spokesperson stated.
The DHS highlighted that seven of the safest cities in the U.S. cooperate with ICE. They criticized Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James for releasing violent criminals from jails back into communities.
They cited five cases in New York where noncitizens remained at large or were released despite ICE detainers linked to serious crimes such as attempted murder and assault. ICE later took the individuals into custody, and one was deported to Mexico.
Governor Hochul defended the state’s ban on 287(g) agreements, emphasizing that local officers should focus on local crimes rather than civil immigration enforcement.
Hochul’s office responded to the DHS criticism, asserting that New York does not become safer by using local law enforcement to target families and hardworking individuals.
A federal court upheld New York’s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, and Hochul pledged continued collaboration with federal and local law enforcement to tackle violent offenders and maintain community safety.
Co-host Willie Geist queried whether ICE could still secure partnerships with New York police forces. DHS warned that ending local ICE partnerships would enhance federal agents’ visibility in New York communities.
“I just banned it,” Hochul asserted. “It’s against the law now in the state of New York to have these agreements.”
The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, signed in May, prohibits state and local entities from participating in 287(g) agreements, which allow trained local personnel to perform federal civil immigration duties under ICE guidance.
Hochul’s office clarified that the law does not stop jails from informing ICE about potentially deportable individuals in custody or transferring them to the agency, provided local laws allow.
However, a group of 15 county sheriffs sued the Hochul administration, alleging that the law unlawfully restricts their capability to uphold federally sanctioned ICE agreements.
Led by Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault, the federal lawsuit claims the ban overrides sheriffs’ authority and undermines federally authorized pacts.
The state noted that Rensselaer was the sole agency of 12 with a 287(g) joint agreement that had not indicated its dissolution.
Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Rensselaer County and its sheriff to terminate the agreement, marking the first action by the state’s new Office of Immigrant Trust.
A federal judge earlier denied the Justice Department’s request for a preliminary injunction against the 287(g) ban in a separate lawsuit. The deadline took effect, and the litigation is ongoing, with the 15 sheriffs seeking emergency relief.