More than a dozen New York sheriffs have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state law that prohibits local law enforcement from entering into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement. The law, known as the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, went into effect Tuesday.
The lawsuit, led by Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault, argues that the law is unconstitutional and unlawfully restricts sheriffs' ability to engage in federally authorized immigration enforcement. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin criticized the law, stating it "escalated her administration’s war on the police and she expanded polices to put criminals before the citizens of New York."
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the law in May. It bars local and state law enforcement agencies from forming new partnerships with federal authorities for civil immigration matters and requires the termination of existing detention agreements within three months. Police may still assist ICE in cases of violent crime or other non-immigration related offenses, but cannot divert local resources to aid in civil immigration enforcement.
Hochul has asserted that law enforcement should prioritize addressing local crime over civil immigration matters. "We need local cops hunting down criminals, not kindergartners. Breaking up drug rings, not breaking up families. Arresting gun runners, not grandmas," she said during a press conference. She also declared her defiance towards the lawsuit, stating, "And to those suing us, those trying to block the implementation of this law who’ve tried before and failed, our law has already been upheld by the courts, but if you try me again, I say, bring it on."
New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued subpoenas to several sheriff's offices, including those in Broome, Steuben, Nassau, and Rensselaer counties, as well as the Nassau County Police Department. These subpoenas were sent to agencies that either did not confirm plans to end their ICE agreements or provided unsatisfactory responses. A spokesperson for the attorney general's office stated that civil suits would be filed if agencies fail to comply.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican challenger to Hochul, indicated he would likely join the sheriffs' lawsuit. Blakeman has previously defended cooperation with ICE, citing instances where individuals with criminal records were removed from his county. He also criticized Hochul's policies, asking where she would prefer individuals with criminal records to reside if not in New York.
The Department of Homeland Security commented on the situation, stating that Hochul "must stop putting politics above public safety" and that "This type of insanity leads to more crimes and more innocent victims."