Governor Hochul Highlights New Laws to Protect New Yorkers and Stand Against ICE Overreach

Governor Kathy Hochul today met with immigration advocates, faith leaders, educators and New Yorkers impacted by aggressive federal immigration enforcement to highlight new protections included in her FY27 Enacted Budget. These new laws will keep local law enforcement focused on keeping our communities safe instead of doing ICE's job, protect sensitive locations from civil immigration enforcement and hold federal agents accountable for violating the Constitution.

"Today, I met with New Yorkers who have been impacted by ICE's cruel and dangerous actions. This overreach is unacceptable and will never be tolerated in this state," Governor Hochul said. "With new guardrails to reign in ICE, we have established a blueprint to protect our neighbors, our communities and the constitutional rights of all New Yorkers."

Measures included in the Enacted Budget build on the Governor's previously introduced proposals to protect New Yorkers amid an unprecedented escalation in aggressive federal immigration enforcement.

"Local Cops, Local Crimes" Act

Prohibits local governments, state and local police, and state and local corrections from entering into 287(g) Agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local law enforcement personnel and facilities to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes. Local governments would also be barred from paying or otherwise contributing to the costs related to constructing, owning or operating an immigration detention facility. They would also be prohibited from changing zoning to allow for construction or use of buildings as immigration detention centers without public input.

Bans Law Enforcement from Wearing Masks

Prohibits state, local, and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public. This excludes necessary tactical equipment, sunglasses or medical masks from the definition of face covering. Willfully violating the statute would be an infraction, and subsequent willful violations would be a misdemeanor.

Holds Federal Law Enforcement Accountable for Constitutional Violations

Currently, New Yorkers can sue state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights under federal civil rights law but actions against federal officials are much more limited under federal law. This would establish a state law under which New Yorkers can bring a lawsuit against federal, state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights.

Safeguards Interactions With Public Employees

Prohibits the use of state and local civilian agencies and public school resources, including employee time, for civil immigration enforcement activities. This includes a ban on questioning or investigating individuals solely for civil immigration purposes unless required by a federal judicial warrant or by law. Also prohibits officials from disclosing personally identifying information to immigration authorities, granting them access to non-public areas of public facilities, or using immigration officers as interpreters, and would prohibit the release or transfer of a student into immigration custody even if a parent has been detained, unless specifically mandated by a judicial warrant or court order.

Keeps Immigration Authorities Out Of Sensitive Locations

Prohibits all civilian state, local and school employees (including higher ed and K-12) from permitting access to any non-public area of a state-owned or operated facility to immigration authorities without a judicial warrant, meaning any state or municipally owned or operated facility including housing accommodations, parks, childcare facilities, preschools, hospitals, schools, dorms, healthcare facilities, community centers and shelters, cannot grant or facilitate access to any non-public areas of their facilities to immigration authorities without a warrant. Also protects against voter intimidation and interference at polling locations by denying immigration authorities access to such sites without a judicial warrant, and empowers privately owned or operated sensitive locations, including hospitals, daycares, schools, housing accommodations and houses of worship to do the same.

Protecting Every Student's Right to Free Public Education

Ensures immigrant students can access education, codifying the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status. Prohibits various practices, particularly around data collection and disclosure regarding immigration status, that could chill the exercise of that right by undocumented students.

State Senator Zellnor Myrie said, "New Yorkers are facing unprecedented threats from a federal government that has shown little regard for our rights or the Constitution. With these measures, we are stepping up to protect our communities and the civil rights that generations have fought and died to establish. New York's comprehensive plan will prevent local officials from carrying out federal immigration policy, protect schools and other sensitive locations and give New Yorkers a meaningful remedy if government agents violate their rights. I'm grateful to my colleagues and to Governor Hochul for making our state a leader in responding to these national threats. And to our immigrant communities and all New Yorkers across our state: stay strong. Your government will always have your back."

Assemblymember Karines Reyes said, "Today's triumph is the culmination of years of hard-fought advocacy. From ending formal collusion through 287(g) agreements as part of my New York for All Act, banning local jails for ICE detention, preserving the dignity of all individuals, unmasking agents and protecting our sensitive locations, each piece of this package is a resounding declaration that New York refuses to be complicit in the federal government's campaign of fear. I am proud to see these safeguards signed into law, but formal collusion was never the only form of collusion. I look forward to continuing to work with advocates, colleagues and the Governor to further improve immigrant protections - because no one should ever have to choose between safety and survival simply because of where they were born, and we will not rest until all New Yorkers can live without that fear."

New York Immigration Coalition President and CEO Murad Awawdeh said, "Every New York family deserves to live in safety, without fear that our state resources could be used against them to meet Trump's deportation agenda. By ending 287(g) and IGSA agreements, and banning collusion with ICE from schools, state agencies and local agencies, thousands of New York families will be safe from detention and deportation. These important protections were achieved by the tireless advocacy of immigrant New Yorkers who stood up for their rights despite the unprecedented threats to their families. We commend the Governor and Legislature for passing this package, and for creating new meaningful protections for immigrant New Yorkers."

Make the Road New York Co-Executive Director Natalia Aristizabal said, "The federal government is attacking and terrorizing immigrants, separating mothers from their children and abducting our loved ones in broad daylight. But New York is and always has been defined by the vibrancy of our communities, and we refused to sit idly by as if there was nothing that could be done. Our members have spent the past year organizing, advocating, hitting the streets and the halls of Albany to push for legislation to protect our communities, because our families are on the line. Thank you to champions in the state Senate and Assembly, who stood with us every step of the way, and to Governor Hochul, for enacting this bill."

Long Island Hispanic Bar Association President Maribel Gomez said, "Governor Hochul has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to New York's immigrant communities by standing firm and making sure the Local Cops Local Crimes Act remains a central component of the state budget. She understands that when immigrant families feel safe reporting crimes and working with law enforcement, our communities are stronger and safer for everyone."

Internationals Network for Public Schools Executive Director Lara Evangelista said, "As Executive Director of Internationals Network for Public Schools, I am pleased that Governor Hochul's proposals include strong protections that will ensure that all children in K-12 can participate safely in a free, welcoming, multilingual, high quality public education system. These protections are an embodiment of the long-standing commitment by the Governor and the state of New York to uphold the rights of all students - especially immigrant and refugee youth - to learn and thrive in supportive school environments. Our students have so much to contribute to New York State, as so many of our alumni already have done over the past 40 years. We are grateful to the governor and others who are advocating these proposals that will ensure that these rights are codified by our state."

Education Trust-New York Executive Director Arlen Benjamin-Gomez said, "EdTrust-New York applauds Governor Hochul's leadership in advancing protections for undocumented students and defends every child's right to a public education across New York State. The Governor's proposal incorporates key elements of legislation (S8597 /A10021), which Shelley Mayer and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz champion. Together, these proposals demonstrate New York is ready to act at a critical moment to strengthen protections and ensure schools remain safe, supportive places to learn, even as other states undermine immigrant students' access to education."

Roosevelt Union Free School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn K. Wightman said, "Our schools are more than places of instruction. They are places of safety, stability, trust, belonging and hope. But when families are living in fear, that fear does not stay at home. It enters our classrooms. It affects attendance, concentration, mental health and a child's ability to simply be a child. No student in Roosevelt - and no student anywhere in New York State - should ever feel that coming to school puts their family at risk of separation or fear. Thank you Governor Hochul for prioritizing the safety of our students across this state. The actions taken today will signal to students and their families that they can breathe a little easier knowing that they have a Governor who is fighting for them."

Executive Director of Afrikana Adama Bah said, "I support these protections because I have seen firsthand the fear, uncertainty, and barriers that many immigrant families, especially Black immigrant families face every day. These are our neighbors, parents, workers and children who simply want the opportunity to live with dignity, access services and build a better future. I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to protecting New Yorkers during this challenging time. When we protect people's rights, humanity and access to opportunity, we strengthen the very values that make New York home for so many."

Arc of Justice President and Founder Reverend Kirsten John Foy said, "I want to thank Governor Hochul for her steadfast and granite leadership in protecting our immigrant families, neighbors and friends from the insidious abuses of ICE and Homeland Security. This set of reforms in both spirit and letter uphold and affirm the dignity and constitutional protection afforded every New Yorker, irrespective of immigration status. Governor Hochul, Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie all remain committed to vigilance and diligence in protecting immigrant New Yorkers as fiercely as necessary and all of New York is grateful."