Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced new legislation aimed at restricting the involvement of local law enforcement in federal civil immigration enforcement within New York. The proposed Local Cops, Local Crimes Act would prohibit state and local police from being deputized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under 287(g) agreements, which allow local agencies to perform certain federal immigration duties. This legislation would also prevent federal agents from using local detention centers for civil immigration enforcement, conducting mass raids, or transporting detainees.
The Governor’s proposal follows her recent legislative agenda focused on protecting constitutional rights and ensuring that sensitive locations—such as homes, schools, hospitals, and places of worship—are safeguarded from civil immigration enforcement actions without a judicial warrant.
Governor Hochul stated: “Over the last year federal immigration agents have carried out unspeakable acts of violence against Americans under the guise of public safety. These abuses – and the weaponization of local police officers for civil immigration enforcement – will not stand in New York. Today, I’m announcing new actions that will safeguard our communities against dangerous federal overreach and ensure that New York law enforcement is focused on keeping New Yorkers safe – not doing the job of ICE.”
Currently, 14 law enforcement agencies across nine counties in New York have active 287(g) agreements with ICE. If enacted, the legislation would void all existing agreements and align New York with seven other states—including Washington, Oregon, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut—that already prohibit such partnerships.
In addition to barring 287(g) agreements, Governor Hochul’s plan includes establishing a right for individuals to bring state-level civil lawsuits against federal officers accused of violating constitutional rights. This aligns state legal standards with those already applied to state and local officers under federal civil rights law.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commented: “Prosecutors can’t do our jobs if victims and witnesses – our neighbors – are fearful of coming forward. We need to build community trust to keep everyone safe, and using local law enforcement to do federal civil immigration enforcement erodes our ability to do so. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to protecting all New Yorkers.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez added: “Violence in Brooklyn is at a record low because we earned community trust and protect due process. When victims and witnesses fear that reporting a crime could lead to deportation… people stop coming forward, crimes go unsolved and dangerous offenders evade accountability. Governor Hochul is right to ban 287(g) agreements and to require a judicial warrant before ICE enters sensitive locations.”
Other district attorneys from Queens, Richmond County (Staten Island), Albany County, Columbia County, Onondaga County—as well as sheriffs from Albany County, Ulster County, Suffolk County—and police chiefs from Albany and Utica voiced support for the proposed measures.
Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said: “As prosecutors, it is essential that victims and witnesses feel safe coming forward… Section 287(g) undermines that safety by blurring the line between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement—particularly for New York’s immigrant communities—and I fully support the Governor’s decision to ban these agreements… Section 287(g) does not make victims safer. It discourages reporting, weakens prosecutions, and ultimately undermines public safety.”
Supporters argue that restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE preserves resources for public safety functions directly affecting residents while fostering greater trust between communities—especially immigrant populations—and police.
If passed into law, this initiative would represent a significant change in how local agencies interact with federal immigration authorities throughout New York State.