NY Governor Kathy Hochul Proposes Bill to End Local Cooperation with ICE

Governor Hochul's Stance on ICE Cooperation

• 📣 Governor Kathy Hochul is determined to end all relationships between local police agencies in New York and ICE.
• ⚠️ She described ICE as a "rogue federal agency" that has been "unleashed on the American streets for the sole purpose of creating chaos, carnage, and fear."

Proposed "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act"

• 📜 Hochul has proposed specific legislation aimed at sharply limiting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
• 🎯 The bill, dubbed the "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act," intends for local police to "focus on local crimes, focus on protecting our streets."
• 🚫 The legislation seeks to prevent local police officers from being used to detain and deport "otherwise law-abiding New Yorkers" and to stop ICE from "weaponizing local police officers against their own communities."

Exceptions for Criminal Activity

• 🚨 The governor emphasized that the law would not prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE in tracking down undocumented criminals.
• ⚖️ Hochul stated, "When individuals enter this country illegally and commit crimes, I want them arrested and tried. If they're convicted, they must be imprisoned and deported."

Continued Cooperation on Public Safety

• 🤝 The legislation is not intended to interfere with existing partnerships with federal agencies on vital public safety cases, including terrorism, violence, guns, and gang cases, regardless of immigration status.
• ✅ The Commissioner and many police commanders across New York State are supportive of the proposed legislation.

Nassau County's Role

• 📌 Nassau County has been particularly active in cooperating with ICE on criminal and civil immigration enforcement, though no immediate comment was available from County Executive Bruce Blakeman.