A new New York state law prohibiting local police agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities on civil enforcement officially took effect, setting up a direct legal clash between state officials and local law enforcement, according to reports by ABC7 New York, CBS News, and FOX 5 NY. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Statewide Enforcement and the 287(g) Ban
Under the new statutory framework, local police departments and sheriff’s offices across New York can no longer utilize local detention facilities for federal civil immigration enforcement, including mass raids. According to statements reported by CBS News, Gov. Hochul stated that local police will assist federal authorities only if a real crime has been committed, emphasizing that ICE must operate independently on civil matters to protect immigrants pursuing asylum claims.
The state’s implementation timeline moved forward in July when state officials issued letters to 12 local law enforcement agencies maintaining active agreements with ICE, ordering them to unwind those pacts by August 25. Following that deadline, the New York Attorney General’s Office issued subpoenas to law enforcement agencies that failed to confirm the termination of their federal agreements, with a spokesperson confirming to CBS News that the Nassau County Police Department and the county’s sheriff’s office were among those subpoenaed.
Political Clash Between Hochul and Blakeman
The policy has intensified political divisions, specifically creating a sharp public divide between Democratic Gov. Hochul and Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who are positioned for the 2026 gubernatorial race, as noted by FOX 5 NY. Ahead of the effective date, Gov. Hochul warned local law enforcement agencies that failure to comply with the ban on ICE cooperation would result in legal action, asserting that state police resources must focus exclusively on public safety rather than federal immigration duties.
Conversely, Nassau County Executive Blakeman mounted strong opposition to the legislation during a public rally, crediting past cooperation with ICE for reducing crime in Nassau County. According to statements cited by CBS News, Blakeman defended local coordination by asserting that the county removed thousands of individuals with criminal records without conducting raids on sensitive community locations such as churches, schools, daycares, or hospitals.
Legal and Legislative Pushback
Opponents of the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act have raised broader security concerns during legislative and public debates. According to reporting from FOX 5 NY, critics of the ban pointed to security incidents—such as a recent bomb threat against the State Capitol—to argue that localized federal cooperation provides valuable intelligence. Meanwhile, immigrant advocacy organizations have supported the measure, maintaining that local police officers should not act as federal immigration agents.
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