N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul blasts ICE in push to ban local police cooperation
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is taking aim at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with a bill that would outlaw state and local police cooperation with ICE on civil enforcement.
The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act would also ban ICE agents from using local detention centers for civil enforcement, including mass raids, the governor announced Friday alongside high-ranking state and local law enforcers.
"This is about a rogue federal agency that's been unleashed on the American streets for the sole purpose of creating chaos, carnage and fear," she said.
"Dangerous federal overreach"
Hochul became the latest politician taking aim at President Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, accusing ICE of "dangerous federal overreach" and calling her bill a measure to ensure local law enforcement protects their communities.
"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," she said.
Eight counties across New York, including Nassau, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Chautauqua, Herkimer, Orange, Suffolk and Wayne, currently allow ICE to deputize local police to help detain undocumented immigrants.
Hochul's bill would add New York to the list of seven other states, including New Jersey and Connecticut, that already ban these kinds of agreements with ICE, the governor's office said.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox and members of the New York State Police stood alongside the governor as she outlined the bill.
"Plain and simple, in 2026, local police departments should not be turned into federal immigration agents," Tisch said. "Let me be clear, NYPD does not engage in civil immigration enforcement. Period."
The bill would still allow cooperation in federal criminal investigations.
"We will always cooperate with federal government to bring violent criminals to justice. Full stop," Hochul said. "Public safety must be pursued lawfully, transparently and with humanity, and yet these very principles have been abandoned by our federal government and immigration officers."
Hochul said she's also seeking to codify into law an expanded list of sanctuary places where ICE agents cannot enter without a warrant, including schools, day care centers, houses of worship, hospitals and even homes.
"The Fourth Amendment protects people and stops federal agents from forcibly entering their home without a warrant, but they're doing it anyhow. So I feel obligated to add homes," the governor said.
DHS warns against Hochul's ICE bill
Hochul, a Democrat running for reelection this year, said she does not want to abolish ICE, but she does think agents should be retrained to help keep violent criminals off the streets.
She previously called for the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
"The Trump administration has encouraged these agents to treat the American people ... as if they are the enemy, with the renamed quotas. Executed by masked, armed, poorly trained paramilitary forces. They've created a culture that has no restraint," she said.
The White House issued a statement saying: "ICE officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assault because of dangerous untrue smears by elected Democrats."
"Governor Hochul would make New Yorkers less safe as a direct result of this policy," the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. "Our partnerships with state and local law enforcement are key to removing criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists from American communities."
Homeland Security officials added: "Since January 20, New York's failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens ... The crimes of these aliens include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 dangerous drugs offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 207 sexual predatory offenses."
"Appeal to the lunatic fringe"
Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running against Hochul, blasted the governor's push to end local partnerships with ICE.
"These critical agreements have long helped remove violent offenders — including murderers, sex traffickers, gang members, and other dangerous criminals — from our streets, and assisted police in keeping them in custody when Hochul's bail law would otherwise force their release. Now, local law enforcement's hands are tied, and these criminals will be released back into our communities," he said.
Blakeman has made it a practice of having county police work with the feds.
"I think the policies are wrong-headed and I think that basically [Hochul's] doing it to appeal to the lunatic fringe of her party," he told CBS News New York. "Just recently, ICE removed from my county 46 illegal migrants with criminal records from attempted murder to rape, to robbery, to carjacking, and other crimes, and it's made us a lot safer."
Immigration advocates praise Hochul's plan
District attorneys, faith leaders and police brass from across the state stood firm with Hochul, saying there's a difference between public safety and a public display of force.
Adama Bah is executive director of Afrikana and an advocate for asylum seekers. Last month, a judge ruled her aunt was illegally detained by ICE at LaGuardia Airport and she fought for her release.
Bah was one of dozens of immigration advocates in Midtown Manhattan for the governor's announcement.
"I'm pleased we are taking steps to protect New Yorkers," Bah said.
"Our folks are afraid. We want to protect them," Episcopal Bishop of New York Matthew Heyd said.
