A coalition of 15 county sheriffs in New York filed a lawsuit on Aug. 25 challenging a new state law that prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. The law, known as the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, took effect the same day, ending existing 287(g) agreements that allowed local police to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in civil immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit, filed in state court, argues that the ban violates sheriffs' authority to protect their communities. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation on May 27 as part of a broader package of immigration measures. The law required agencies with active 287(g) agreements to terminate them by Aug. 25, rendering any remaining agreements void under state law.
Hochul’s office stated that the law ensures local law enforcement remains focused on public safety rather than federal civil immigration enforcement. In a statement, Hochul said the policy prevents local police from being "de facto ICE agents" and avoids diverting resources to federal priorities. The Office of Immigrant Trust, created by the attorney general, sent letters to the 12 agencies with existing 287(g) agreements in late July, directing them to unwind the partnerships by the deadline.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), representing the sheriffs, argued that the law dismantles congressionally authorized partnerships that sheriffs had lawfully entered to enhance community safety. Dale Wilcox, FAIR’s executive director, stated that sheriffs should not be forced by state officials to abandon tools that help remove dangerous individuals.
Opponents of the law, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, have criticized the policy as a threat to public safety. Blakeman called the law "written in the blood of victims," asserting that it will make communities less safe by restricting cooperation with ICE. He cited recent cases involving crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally as evidence of the policy’s risks.
The lawsuit marks the latest legal and political challenge to Hochul’s immigration enforcement policies. The state maintains that federal immigration efforts have made communities less safe and that local resources should not be used for civil immigration enforcement. A spokesperson for Hochul’s office said Blakeman’s interpretation of state laws was incorrect and reiterated the governor’s focus on public safety.
The law’s implementation follows a 90-day transition period for agencies to end their 287(g) agreements. The agreements had allowed local officers to question, arrest, and detain individuals suspected of civil immigration violations under federal authority. The state’s action aligns with broader efforts to limit local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, a policy often associated with so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions.