New York Sheriffs Sue Over Law Restricting Cooperation with ICE

<p>More than a dozen New York sheriffs have filed a lawsuit against a state law that prohibits law enforcement from entering into or maintaining certain agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement. Governor Kathy Hochul responded to the lawsuit by challenging the agency heads, stating, "bring it on." </p><p>The federal lawsuit, led by Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault, claims that the law is unconstitutional and unlawfully restricts elected sheriffs’ ability to engage in federally authorized immigration-enforcement agreements.</p><p>Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin criticized Hochul's administration, stating, "Today, Kathy Hochul escalated her administration’s war on the police and she expanded policies to put criminals before the citizens of New York." </p><p>The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, signed by Hochul in May, took effect on Tuesday. It prohibits local and state law enforcement agencies from forming partnerships with federal authorities for civil immigration matters and requires existing agreements to house civil immigration detainees to be terminated within three months.</p><p>While police may still assist ICE in cases involving violent or non-immigration crimes, they are not permitted to use local resources for civil immigration enforcement as part of efforts associated with former President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda.</p><p>Hochul indicated that localities refusing to end cooperation agreements with ICE could face legal action. This sets up a potential confrontation with her Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose county has agreements with ICE.</p><p>"No county executive should think that they are above the law in the state of New York," Hochul stated during a press conference on Tuesday.</p><p>She warned that any police department or sheriff’s office that ignores the law will face legal consequences. "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," she added.</p><p>New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued subpoenas to law enforcement agencies that did not confirm plans to end their agreements or did not provide satisfactory responses. The subpoenas were sent to the sheriff's offices of Broome, Steuben, Nassau, and Rensselaer counties, as well as the Nassau County Police Department.</p><p>If the agencies do not comply, the attorney general plans to file a civil suit, according to a spokesperson for her office.</p><p>Hochul has stated that law enforcement will assist ICE only if a real crime has been committed, emphasizing that resources cannot be used for 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," she said.</p><p>Blakeman, who held a press conference concurrently with Hochul's, did not confirm whether he would comply with the state's orders but later indicated he would "probably" join the sheriffs' lawsuit. He has previously defended collaboration with ICE to remove individuals with criminal records, stating that about 2,000 such individuals reside in his county.</p><p>"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 remarked.</p><p>The Department of Homeland Security stated that Hochul "must stop putting politics above public safety," adding that such policies could lead to increased crime and more innocent victims.</p>