| Photo via Gov. Hochul’s Press Office
ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday introduced a far‑reaching legislative package aimed at shielding New Yorkers from what she called “dangerous federal overreach,” strengthening constitutional protections, and preventing local police from being deputized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for civil immigration enforcement. The proposal, part of her broader 2026 public safety agenda, comes amid escalating federal immigration actions that state officials say have sown fear in communities across New York.
The centerpiece of the package is the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which would bar state and local law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements — contracts that allow ICE to deputize local officers to perform federal civil immigration duties. Fourteen agencies across nine New York counties currently participate in such contracts, all of which would be void under the bill.
Hochul said the legislation is designed to ensure that “New York law enforcement is focused on keeping New Yorkers safe — not doing the job of ICE.” “Over the last year federal immigration agents have carried out unspeakable acts of violence against Americans under the guise of public safety,” she said. “These abuses — and the weaponization of local police officers for civil immigration enforcement — will not stand in New York.”
Legislation Would Eliminate 287(g) Agreements and Restrict Use of Local Jails.
Under the proposal, New York would join seven other states — including New Jersey, California, and Illinois — that already prohibit 287(g) agreements. The bill would also bar federal immigration agents from using local jails, detention centers, or other municipal facilities for civil immigration enforcement, mass raids, or the transportation of detainees.
State officials argue that these agreements divert local resources away from core public safety responsibilities and erode trust between police and immigrant communities. The Governor’s office said federal reliance on local officers “draws critical public safety resources away from essential law enforcement functions that keep New York’s residents and communities safe.”
The legislation also builds on Hochul’s earlier proposal to prohibit federal agents from entering sensitive locations — including homes, schools, hospitals, day cares, and houses of worship — without a judicial warrant. “New Yorkers should be able to attend school, access child care, seek medical care, worship, and reside in their private homes in peace,” the Governor’s office said.
Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Leaders Back the Plan
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the legislation is essential to maintaining community trust. “Prosecutors can’t do our jobs if victims and witnesses — our neighbors — are fearful of coming forward,” he said, adding that using local police for civil immigration enforcement “erodes our ability to do so.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez echoed that concern, noting that fear of deportation can prevent victims from reporting crimes. “When victims and witnesses fear that reporting a crime could lead to deportation… people stop coming forward, crimes go unsolved and dangerous offenders evade accountability,” he said.
Sheriffs and police chiefs across the state also voiced support. Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said, “No one should be living in the shadows, afraid to call the police when they need help. Our jails, our deputies, and our resources need to stay focused on the serious criminals who threaten our communities.”
Next Steps in the Legislature
The bill is expected to come up for debate in the coming weeks as lawmakers weigh the balance among state authority, federal immigration enforcement, and community safety. Hochul said she is fast‑tracking the proposal as part of a broader effort to “safeguard our communities against dangerous federal overreach.”
If enacted, the legislation would immediately eliminate all existing 287(g) agreements in New York and establish some of the strongest state‑level protections in the country against civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.
