New York law banning local police agencies from cooperating with ICE now in effect

A new law is now in effect in New York state that bans local police agencies from cooperating with ICE. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act in January, and signed it into law in May. 

It bans local government agencies from maintaining agreements with ICE for civil enforcement. It also prohibits ICE agents from using local detention centers for civil enforcement, including mass raids. 

"Local police will assist ICE only if a real crime has been committed," Hochul said. "But on civil immigration matters, ICE is on their own."

She said the law will help protect immigrants from aggressive enforcement while they pursue asylum claims. 

Back in July, state officials sent letters to 12 local law enforcement agencies that have agreements with ICE. The letters stated that they must unwind the agreements by Aug. 25.   

The New York Attorney General's Office issued subpoenas to law enforcement agencies that have not confirmed their plans to terminate their agreements with ICE. A spokesperson said the Nassau County Police Department and sheriff's office were among those subpoenaed.  

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor, credits ICE cooperation for reducing crime in the county. 

"We got rid of 2,000 illegal migrants with criminal records in Nassau County without raiding a church, a school, a daycare center, a hospital, because we cooperated with ICE," he previously said.