New York law Enforcement Leaders Back Hochul Plan to Ban 287(g) Partnerships and Keep Cops on Local Crime
Albany, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul is escalating her push to bar New York’s local police and sheriffs from being deputized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for civil immigration enforcement, framing the proposal as a way to keep officers focused on local crime and maintain community trust.
At a Feb. 9 roundtable in Albany, Hochul appeared with a bipartisan mix of district attorneys, county sheriffs, police chiefs and county executives who voiced support for what her office calls the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.
The legislation would end 287(g) agreements, which allow ICE to train and authorize local law enforcement to perform certain immigration-enforcement functions. Hochul’s proposal would also prevent taxpayer-funded local personnel and resources from being used for federal civil immigration enforcement and would bar federal agents from using local detention centers to house civil immigration detainees, according to the governor’s office.
Hochul argues the measure would not block cooperation with federal authorities on criminal investigations or efforts to apprehend “dangerous criminals,” a point emphasized in the administration’s messaging as lawmakers return to Albany.
Supporters say limiting civil immigration enforcement by local agencies can improve public safety when residents feel safe reporting crimes, including domestic violence and school-related incidents. Critics, including some county leaders, warn the change could complicate coordination and shift enforcement activity in unpredictable ways.
What parents should know: If your family has concerns, keep school emergency contacts current, monitor district communications, and use trusted legal-aid resources for immigration questions. Officials say updates on the bill’s legislative path are expected as the session advances.
