Local Crimes, Local Cops Act goes into effect in New York state
New York is officially enforcing the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, banning state and local law enforcement from entering into agreements with ICE.
New York is officially enforcing the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, banning state and local law enforcement from entering into agreements with ICE.
Gov, Kathy Hochul defended the legislation this week, emphasizing that local officers need to remain focused on the communities that they serve rather than handling federal immigration duties. This week was the deadline for 12 local agencies to dissolve their existing agreements with Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement under 287 (g).
The policy shift comes as immigration arrests hit a record high this summer, drawing sharp divisions among law enforcement and immigration advocates.
Supporters of the law, including the New York Immigration Coalition, hailed it as a major victory. The organization argued that ending local collaboration prevents police from acting as an extension of federal deportation agendas and ensures immigrant New Yorkers can report crimes without fear.
"As ICE continues to ramp up its enforcement tactics and spread fear among immigrant New Yorkers, ending these agreements sends a powerful message that New York will not allow its local police to be used as an extension of Trump’s mass deportation agenda," said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.
Critics, however, warn the law creates public safety risks.
Michael Alcazar, a 30-year veteran of the NYPD and criminal justice professor at John Jay College, argued that stripping away local cooperation complicates enforcement during large-scale protests or civil unrest where federal and local jurisdictions overlap.
"Police officers, their job is to maintain peace, and they deal with the public all the time. ICE agents are trained, you know, to target undocumented, individuals. They're not really good for, like, dealing with people doing blockades, protesting, taking over the street, blocking their vehicles. ICE isn't really designed for that. That's law enforcement's job, when you take away that component, I think it endangers communities and is dangerous," said Alcazar.
Despite the restrictions, Gov. Hochul noted that the state will still coordinate with federal authorities when handling violent criminals, adding that ICE as a massive federal agency must manage its own standard operations.
"It's an $85 billion agency, I think they can take care of themselves," said Gov. Hochul.
The legislative battle is now shifting to the courts. A coalition of more than a dozen New York sheriffs is asking a federal court to strike down the law.
Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James warned that her office is prepared to take legal action against any agency that refuses to comply.
