New York Limits ICE Cooperation with Local Police to Curb Trump Deportations

New York State has officially banned cooperation between local police forces and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on civil immigration cases. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the law, asserting that it will prevent local law enforcement from being used by the Trump administration to meet deportation targets.

"Starting today, the Trump Administration can no longer use our locally-funded police to carry out their cruel immigration agenda," Hochul stated on social media. She emphasized that local police should focus on addressing local crimes, not assisting a federal agency in civil immigration enforcement. The new law dictates that local police will only assist ICE if an actual crime has been committed, a practice many officials say was the norm prior to recent federal directives.

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Starting today, the Trump Administration can no longer use our locally-funded police to carry out their cruel immigration agenda. Local cops should be focused on fighting local crimes. Not aiding and abetting an $85 billion federal agency.

Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox warned that requiring local police to engage in federal civil immigration enforcement damages community trust. "When trust is broken and residents fear calling the police, victims stay silent, witnesses don't speak... we are all less safe," Cox explained. He noted that his department has not historically engaged in civil immigration enforcement since his career began in 1994. Other police officials questioned the timing of these cooperation agreements, known as 287(g), especially as local crime rates have reportedly declined.

Despite some local opposition, including a lawsuit filed by 15 sheriffs challenging the law, Governor Hochul asserted that the state's position has been upheld in courts. She indicated that most of New York's counties already adhere to similar practices. The law aims to recalibrate the focus of local law enforcement towards community safety and away from federal immigration enforcement, particularly under an administration perceived as prioritizing deportation numbers.

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Trust erodes when local forces are asked to perform federal civil immigration actions. When trust is broken and residents fear calling the police, victims stay silent, witnesses don't speak... we are all less safe.