US News
New York sheriffs sue state over ICE cooperation limits as Hochul faces criticism
A coalition of 15 sheriffs is challenging a state law restricting local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The short version
- A coalition of 15 New York sheriffs has filed a lawsuit to challenge the state's ban on 287(g) ICE agreements under the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.
- Governor Kathy Hochul's administration has countersued the Rensselaer County sheriff for refusing to comply with the state restrictions.
- Republican opponents and critics claim the law compromises public safety, while Hochul's office maintains that local resources should focus on local crimes and that police can still collaborate with ICE on violent crime investigations.
Key facts
- A coalition of 15 New York sheriffs representing counties stretching from Lake Champlain to the Massachusetts border filed a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on 287(g) ICE agreements.[Fox News]
- Governor Kathy Hochul announced a countersuit against the sheriff of Rensselaer County for noncompliance with the state's restrictions on ICE cooperation.[Fox News]
- The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act restricts local law enforcement assets and officers from being utilized for federal civil immigration enforcement.[Fox News]
- Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican gubernatorial opponent, criticized the law as being 'written in the blood of the victims' and argued that it makes communities less safe.[Fox News]
- Hochul's office defended the legislation, stating that federal civil immigration enforcement draws key resources away from local policing duties and that local officers can still coordinate with federal authorities on ordinary criminal and violent crime investigations.[Fox News]