New York City, New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday introduced legislation that would bar local law enforcement agencies across New York from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on civil immigration enforcement, framing the proposal as a response to recent federal actions and what she called escalating abuses of power.
The proposal, titled the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, would void all existing 287(g) agreements in the state, affecting 14 law enforcement agencies across nine counties. Those agreements allow local police to be deputized by ICE to carry out federal immigration enforcement. The bill would also prohibit ICE from using local jails for civil immigration detention while preserving cooperation with federal authorities on criminal investigations.
Hochul said the legislation was prompted in part by recent federal immigration operations in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed during encounters with federal agents. She argued that ICE’s actions have created fear and eroded trust between police and communities, particularly in immigrant neighborhoods.
Announcing the bill in Manhattan alongside local law enforcement leaders and prosecutors, Hochul said the measure is intended to keep police focused on local crime while strengthening civil liberties. The proposal would also expand protections for “sensitive locations,” adding private homes to a list that already includes schools, hospitals, and places of worship, requiring judicial warrants for entry.
Republican county executives, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, criticized the proposal and pledged to maintain federal partnerships. The Department of Homeland Security said the policy would undermine public safety, a claim Hochul rejected.
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