New York – Bill Would Require Judicial Warrants For ICE At Schools And Other “Sensitive Locations”

New York City, New York — Kathy Hochul on Friday proposed legislation that would bar state and local law enforcement agencies from entering agreements that deputize local officers to assist with federal civil immigration enforcement, framing the plan as a public-safety and civil-rights measure for families across New York. 

The proposal dubbed the “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” would eliminate 287(g) agreements, preventing local police from acting as federal immigration agents or using taxpayer-funded resources for civil immigration enforcement, according to the governor’s office.  It would also restrict federal agents from using local detention facilities for civil immigration enforcement operations and related transport, the administration said. 

Hochul said New York will continue cooperating with federal authorities on violent criminal investigations, while arguing that broad immigration enforcement partnerships can undermine community trust and divert local resources from addressing gun violence, retail theft, gangs, and drugs. 

For parents, the most immediate impact could be around schools and other “sensitive locations.” Hochul has also backed a separate push to require judicial warrants before civil immigration enforcement actions at places such as schools, houses of worship, and hospitals. 

What parents should know: Families can ask their school district what protocols are in place for campus visitors and warrants, keep emergency contacts updated, and rely on official district alerts for any safety guidance tied to school operations.

State lawmakers are expected to take up the proposal in the coming weeks. New Yorkers can track updates through the governor’s announcement page.