New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced plans to introduce a state law aimed at ending local law enforcement agencies' participation in federal immigration agreements, known as the 287(g) program. The move comes amid growing public outcry over aggressive immigration enforcement and comes days after two people were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Hochul's proposal would effectively ban the sharing of sensitive information between local police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but would still allow for cooperation on apprehending criminals and providing crowd control. The governor has faced criticism from Republican county executives, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who currently have 287(g) agreements in place.
Hochul's decision is seen as a significant shift in her stance on immigration enforcement, which was previously more nuanced. In 2021, she reissued an executive order barring most state employees from asking about a person's immigration status, but had not taken concrete action to end local law enforcement agreements with ICE.
The move has been welcomed by advocacy groups, who argue that it is necessary to counter the Trump-era immigration crackdown. However, some have cautioned that further protections are needed to prevent informal cooperation between law enforcement and ICE.
Hochul's decision sets up a potential clash with Republican county executives, who may resist the change. The proposal also comes as lawmakers in Albany rally behind an existing bill aimed at prohibiting officers from using public resources for immigration enforcement, known as the New York for All Act.
In a statement, Hochul said that her move was necessary to address what she described as "tyranny" in the current system. She emphasized that local law enforcement agencies have other priorities and should not be drawn into federal immigration enforcement efforts. The governor's proposal is seen as an important step towards protecting immigrant communities and countering the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies.
As tensions over immigration enforcement continue to simmer, Hochul's move has sparked a new debate in Albany about how to balance public safety with concerns about civil liberties and community trust.
Hochul's proposal would effectively ban the sharing of sensitive information between local police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but would still allow for cooperation on apprehending criminals and providing crowd control. The governor has faced criticism from Republican county executives, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who currently have 287(g) agreements in place.
Hochul's decision is seen as a significant shift in her stance on immigration enforcement, which was previously more nuanced. In 2021, she reissued an executive order barring most state employees from asking about a person's immigration status, but had not taken concrete action to end local law enforcement agreements with ICE.
The move has been welcomed by advocacy groups, who argue that it is necessary to counter the Trump-era immigration crackdown. However, some have cautioned that further protections are needed to prevent informal cooperation between law enforcement and ICE.
Hochul's decision sets up a potential clash with Republican county executives, who may resist the change. The proposal also comes as lawmakers in Albany rally behind an existing bill aimed at prohibiting officers from using public resources for immigration enforcement, known as the New York for All Act.
In a statement, Hochul said that her move was necessary to address what she described as "tyranny" in the current system. She emphasized that local law enforcement agencies have other priorities and should not be drawn into federal immigration enforcement efforts. The governor's proposal is seen as an important step towards protecting immigrant communities and countering the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies.
As tensions over immigration enforcement continue to simmer, Hochul's move has sparked a new debate in Albany about how to balance public safety with concerns about civil liberties and community trust.