Governor Hochul Introduces Bill Banning Local Police From Assisting ICE
New York Governor Kathy Hochul introduced new legislation on Friday designed to prohibit local law enforcement agencies from collaborating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill, known as the “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act,” aims to prevent federal authorities from utilizing local police resources for immigration enforcement operations.
Governor Hochul described the move as a necessary response to what she termed federal overreach, stating that the legislation would “stop ICE from co-opting local law enforcement.” The proposed law specifically seeks to ban Section 287(g) agreements, which are partnerships that allow state and local officers to perform limited immigration law enforcement functions. Hochul emphasized that local police should remain focused on community safety issues such as gang violence and narcotics rather than federal immigration mandates.
Critics of the legislation, including Republican state lawmakers and some law enforcement unions, have voiced strong objections. Opponents argue that severing ties with federal immigration authorities endangers public safety by allowing individuals who have committed crimes to remain in communities rather than facing deportation. Republican leaders have previously introduced counter-measures seeking to mandate cooperation with ICE, contending that sanctuary policies obstruct the rule of law and exacerbate the migrant crisis affecting New York.
Under current New York policies, executive orders already limit some interactions between state agencies and ICE, but this legislation would codify stricter prohibitions into state law. The introduction of this bill follows increased pressure from immigrant advocacy groups urging the passage of the “New York for All Act,” a broader measure that would restrict information sharing and access to state resources. While Hochul has historically taken a cautious approach to such comprehensive bans, this new proposal marks a significant shift toward limiting the operational reach of federal immigration agents within the state.
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