By Jack Morphet
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed new legislation prohibiting law enforcement from being deputized by ICE for federal civil immigration operations.
The proposal would still allow state and local law enforcement officers to assist federal agents in criminal investigations, but it would block them from being deputized for civil immigration operations. It would also ban federal use of local detention centers for civil immigration cases.
"With this proposal we're sending a strong message to ICE: You will not weaponize local police officers against their own communities in the state of New York," Hochul, a Democrat, told reporters Friday.
Her proposal comes amid intense backlash over immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, where federal agents killed U.S. citizens Renee Good, a mother of three, and intensive-care nurse Alex Pretti, both 37. Hochul called for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign in the wake of Pretti's death, saying Noem didn't understand the boundaries of the law.
New York officers in nine counties across the state are currently deputized to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Hochul said, under what is known as the 287(g) program. It empowers state and local officers to investigate the immigration status of people they stop in the course of their regular duties and to detain them if there is reason to believe they are in the country illegally.
Under Hochul's proposed legislation, all existing agreements will be void and New York will join seven other states that already prohibit the arrangement between local law enforcement and federal immigration officers, including California, New Jersey and Washington.
New York law enforcement agencies already performing immigration officer functions under ICE's direction and oversight include the Nassau County Police Department and Sheriff's Office, Broome County Sheriff's Office and Steuben County Sheriff's Office, according to Homeland Security.
The agreements allow police to keep dangerous criminals in custody and prevent their release under state bail rules, according to Nassau County executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman. Blakeman, who supports the Trump administration's immigration agenda, has secured the president's endorsement.
"By banning local law enforcement partnerships with ICE, Hochul is allowing dangerous criminals to return to our neighborhoods," Blakeman said Friday.
Some chiefs are already scaling back their partnerships with federal immigration authorities. In western New York state, Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti said last week that his agency will no longer hold people detained by ICE unless there is a criminal charge or judicial warrant.
New York City's existing sanctuary and detainer laws already prohibit New York City's police department from assisting federal agents with civil immigration enforcement.
Write to Jack Morphet at jack.morphet@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 30, 2026 14:19 ET (19:19 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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