New York Governor Kathy Hochul introduced a bill that seeks to prohibit the collaboration of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with state police officers.
Hochul proposed the ‘Local Police, Local Crimes’ initiative to prevent federal immigration agents from using state troops in the implementation of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
This rule, if approved, will also veto ICE from using local detention centers to carry out massive operations against the state’s population.
According to the governor, these policies will allow her forces to focus on “maintaining the safety of New Yorkers, instead of doing the work of ICE.”
“Over the past year, federal immigration agents have carried out unspeakable acts of violence against Americans under the guise of public safety. “These abuses, and the use of local police officers as a weapon to enforce civil immigration laws, will not be tolerated in New York,” said the Democratic governor.
In addition, this regulation seeks to recover the prohibition, reversed by the federal government, of applying the civil immigration policy in sensitive places such as schools, hospitals and places of worship.
The governor’s proposal recovers this and adds that they cannot enter homes without a court order. The legislation will also give New Yorkers “a clear path” to sue federal officials when their rights are violated.
The NGO Legal Aid Society, the oldest and largest organization in the US, welcomed the proposal as “a positive step to protect New York immigrants from unjust federal overreach.”
“These measures reinforce existing constitutional protections that require a court order for ICE to enter these spaces,” the organization noted.
The deployment ordered by Trump of federal agents in cities and states, mostly Democratic, is one of the biggest objects of conflict between the federal government and local and state authorities.
Especially since dhe people lost their lives in Minneapolisin the state of Minnesota, this January after being shot by federal agents when they were protesting against the operation.
– Video of the governor of New York who seeks to prohibit the collaboration of ICE with local police for raids (Video: EFE):
Protecting New Yorkers
“Current federal immigration policies have created chaos and fear and have undermined our democracy, causing the loss of innocent lives, including that of American citizens,” the governor emphasizes in a statement.
“The use of state or local law enforcement agents and resources for the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws, under the federal administration’s immigration agenda, diverts crucial public safety resources from essential policing functions that keep New York residents and communities safe.”
It is indicated that in New York, 14 police agencies from 9 counties (including Nassau) have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE. With this legislation, all existing 287(g) agreements will be void and New York will join 7 other states that currently prohibit them such as Washington, Oregon, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut.
For decades, federal policy, under administrations of both parties, has limited warrantless enforcement of civil immigration laws in sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Recent federal changes have rolled back these protections, affecting public safety, school communities, access to health care, and trust in critical institutions.
“New Yorkers should be able to attend school, access child care, receive medical care, practice their religion, and reside in their homes with peace of mind,” says Governor Hochul, whose measure will help provide stability for children and families in essential community spaces.
“Prosecutors cannot do our jobs if victims and witnesses, our neighbors, are afraid to come forward,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “We need to build trust in the community to ensure the safety of everyone, and the use of local law enforcement for federal civil immigration enforcement undermines our ability to achieve this,” he added.
For his part, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez commented, “Governor Hochul is right to ban 287(g) agreements and require a court order before ICE enters sensitive locations. “This allows local law enforcement to focus on serious crimes, strengthens public safety, and helps ensure that New Yorkers can seek justice without fear.”
In turn, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. said, “Strong communities are built on trust between residents and the officers who serve them. Right now, that trust is under pressure, and these measures help preserve it so we can continue to keep all New Yorkers safe. “I thank Governor Hochul for her collaboration with law enforcement on these urgent matters.”
