New effort to observe ICE activities launched by N.Y. AG Letitia James

New York Attorney General Letitia James is starting a new effort to observe and document ICE activity in New York state. 

It comes in the wake of federal activities in Minneapolis that have resulted in the deaths of two Americans, Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Both were shot dead by federal agents there. 

James call the effort the Legal Observation Project, and says it will dispatch trained personnel to document Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities and related protests. 

James' office says the observers "will serve as neutral witnesses on the ground, recording information that may inform future legal action." 

"We have seen in Minnesota how quickly and tragically federal operations can escalate in the absence of transparency and accountability. My office is launching the Legal Observation Project to examine federal enforcement activity in New York and whether it remains within the bounds of the law," James said. 

New Yorkers who observe ICE enforcement operations can also submit their videos to the attorney general's office online. 

The move comes days after Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a plan to block state and local police from cooperating with ICE on civil operations. That proposal has stirred up controversy in Rockland County. 

"ICE law enforcement wouldn't have to be in the field in New York if we had state and local cooperation. Letitia James is not letting that happen, which puts New Yorkers in danger," Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. "Since January 20, New York's refusal to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens from New York custody back on the streets. 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. There are currently 7,113 aliens in the custody of a New York jurisdiction with an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 148 homicides, 717 assaults, 134 burglaries, 106 robberies, 235 dangerous drugs offenses, 152 weapons offenses, and 260 sexual predatory offenses. We again call on Letitia James to commit to turning these heinous criminals over to ICE."

The deaths of Pretti and Good has led to the DHS announcing that all federal personnel in Minnesota will wear body cameras.