New York Imposes New Law Blocking ICE Cooperation
In New York, a new law banning local law enforcement agencies' cooperation with ICE in civil immigration matters has come into force.
A new law that blocks local police and law‑enforcement units in the state of New York from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on civil immigration matters has come into effect. The regulation, called the 'Local Cops, Local Crimes Act', was announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in January and signed into law in May.
ICE Agreements to Be Terminated
The law bars local government agencies from maintaining agreements with ICE on civil immigration matters. The regulation also prevents ICE officers from using local detention centers for civil immigration purposes, including mass operations.
Hochul Emphasizes Crime
Governor Hochul, while outlining the scope of the new regulation, said that local police could collaborate with ICE for support when a real crime is committed. She added that in civil immigration matters the federal agency would act on its own. According to the governor, the regulation is intended to shield migrants in the asylum application process from harsher enforcement.
12 Agencies Granted Time
New York state officials sent a letter to 12 local law‑enforcement agencies that had agreements with ICE in July. They were asked to take steps to terminate those agreements by August 25. Thus, the period set for ending civil immigration collaborations between ICE and local law‑enforcement also expired with the new law taking effect.
Court Action Against Some Agencies
The New York Attorney General’s office sent a court summons to some law‑enforcement agencies that had not confirmed their plans to terminate agreements with ICE. Officials said that among the agencies served were the Nassau County Police Department and the sheriff’s office.
Response from Nassau County Administration
Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County administrator and Republican candidate in the gubernatorial race, said that cooperation with ICE helped curb crime in the county. In a prior statement, Blakeman noted that about 2,000 undocumented migrants with criminal records in Nassau County were removed from the area without operations being staged at churches, schools, daycares, or hospitals thanks to the ICE partnership.
The Law Amplified the Immigration Debate
The new regulation reshapes the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement in New York. While state authorities say a distinction will be made between criminal investigations and civil immigration procedures, the debate between state and local governments and the federal government over cooperation with ICE continues.
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