Law Protecting ICE Could Extend to New York City Police Officers: What is the Halo Act and What Would Change?

A union representing New York City police officers has requested a law similar to the "Halo Act" to enhance officer safety. The proposal aims to establish a 25-foot (7.6-meter) buffer zone around officers while they perform duties such as operations or managing protests. This measure would make it illegal for individuals, after a warning, to remain within this zone with the intent to interfere. "Officers deserve protection because they risk their lives. There must be respect between both parties," stated Mariam Benabe, a migrant resident of New York City. The "Halo Act" itself is designed to penalize those who obstruct federal immigration enforcement agents. States like Tennessee and Florida have already enacted similar "safety zone" laws, with penalties that can include fines and imprisonment for violations. Tennessee's law allows for a 25-foot zone around officers in various situations, even without an immediate safety risk. Indiana also passed a law in 2023, later revised, that criminalizes knowingly approaching within 7.6 meters of an officer after a stop order, requiring a "reasonable belief" of interference.