New York law banning local police agencies from cooperating with ICE now in effect
With immigration arrests spiking last month to all-time highs, a new state law took effect in New York stopping local cops from signing cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The ban also sets up a confrontation between Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Blakeman is one of two county executives in New York who has so far refused to nullify a cooperation agreement with ICE.
"No county executive should think that they are above the law in the state of New York," Hochul said.
It was a stern warning to Blakeman as the new law went into effect preventing local cops from working with federal immigration agents to advance the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda.
Nassau County is one of only two of the state's 62 counties that have so far refused to comply with the law.
Within minutes of Hochul's remarks, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued subpoenas to law enforcement agencies that either did not confirm plans to unwind their agreements, or whose responses were deemed unsatisfactory.
The subpoenas went out to the sheriff's offices of Broome, Steuben, Nassau and Rensselaer counties, as well as the Nassau County Police Department. The Broome County Sherriff's office said it was in compliance.
A spokesman for Blakeman said the county executive would have no comment on the subpoenas, but at a recent appearance with President Trump, Blakeman vigorously defended working with ICE to rid the county of what he said were some 2,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records.
"Kathy Hochul, where do you want those guns? What neighborhood do you want to destroy? Where do you want those drugs? What community do you want to destroy? Where do you want those illegal immigrants with criminal records to live? You want it back in New York? We say no," Blakeman said at the time.
Defenders of the law stood in front of the Nassau Police Department to back up Hochul, who wants local police to reduce crime in their neighborhoods.
"Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here," they chanted.
Hochul has said law enforcement will assist ICE "only if a real crime has been committed," not on civil immigration matters.
"Because we need local cops hunting down criminals, not kindergartners. Breaking up drug rings, not breaking up families. Arresting gun runners, not grandmas," Hochul said.
The subpoenas issued by James are the first step in forcing Nassau and the others to sever ties with ICE. A spokesperson said that if they don't comply, the next step would be a civil suit.
Last month, ICE agents arrested nearly 50,000 people. That's a 70% increase from February, in the aftermath of two fatal shootings in Minnesota that sparked protests.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect comment from the Broome County Sheriff's office.
