<p>A New York law restricting local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to take effect on August 25, 2026. This legislation, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) in May, aims to unwind agreements between local agencies and the federal immigration agency.</p>
<p>The law, known as the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering into or maintaining agreements with ICE under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This act allows federal immigration authorities to delegate certain enforcement powers to state and local officers.</p>
<p>Additionally, the law restricts the use of state and local resources for civil immigration enforcement, limits the sharing of sensitive information with federal immigration authorities, and establishes protections for students and families in schools. It also includes provisions to prevent federal immigration agents from entering sensitive locations, such as schools and churches, and allows for lawsuits over alleged violations of the law.</p>
<p>In July, state officials notified 12 local law enforcement agencies that they would need to unwind their agreements with ICE by August 25. The New York Attorney General’s Office has issued subpoenas to agencies that have not confirmed plans to terminate their agreements, including the Nassau County Police Department and sheriff’s office.</p>
<p>Governor Hochul stated, “Nobody is above the law. In New York, we will not tolerate the diversion of local resources for federal civil immigration enforcement at the expense of public safety. My top priority is keeping New Yorkers safe. Ensuring our law enforcement remains focused on local crimes is essential to protecting our communities and maintaining public safety.”</p>
<p>Attorney General Letitia James emphasized that the state’s Office of Immigrant Trust would work to ensure that schools, local governments, and public agencies remain places where immigrants can seek assistance without fear of immigration enforcement. “New York is strongest when every community is able to trust the institutions meant to serve them,” James said.</p>
<p>Local officials have already begun legal challenges against the restrictions. Rensselaer County leaders announced plans to join a federal lawsuit to preserve their agreement with ICE, and Broome County also intends to sue.</p>
<p>In June, Hochul expressed readiness for potential challenges from the federal government, asserting, “We are confident that these laws and the values they reflect will be upheld. We believe that people exercising law enforcement should be held accountable to the public. No matter who you are or what badge you wear, you are not above the law.”</p>
<p>The law's implementation coincides with ongoing legal disputes regarding New York's restrictions on federal immigration enforcement. Earlier this month, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against a separate New York law that prohibited federal immigration agents from wearing masks and required them to display identification, but did not block the state’s ban on local agreements with ICE.</p>