Keeping New Yorkers Safe: Governor Hochul Highlights Growing Support for Local Cops, Local Crimes Act

Governor Hochul today hosted a roundtable with law enforcement and elected officials to announce growing support for the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which would prohibit local law enforcement from being deputized by ICE for federal civil immigration enforcement. Joined by more than a dozen district attorneys, county sheriffs, police chiefs, and county executives from across the state, the Governor highlighted her commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe by ensuring local police are focused on fighting local crime.

In the last two weeks, additional law enforcement and elected officials from across the state have expressed support for the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act. The legislation would eliminate 287(g) agreements, barring state and local police from acting as federal agents or using taxpayer-funded resources or personnel to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement. It would also prohibit federal agents from using local detention centers to house civil immigration detainees. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act would not prevent police from working with ICE or other federal law enforcement to apprehend dangerous criminals.

"Today I heard from a bipartisan group of law enforcement and elected officials about the importance of keeping our police resources focused where they are needed most - in our communities," Governor Hochul said. "That is why I have proposed common sense legislation to send a clear message: New York will not tolerate flagrant abuses of power by ICE carried out in the name of public safety."

Last month, Governor Hochul introduced the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act , a series of comprehensive legislation to protect New Yorkers, strengthen constitutional safeguards, and prohibit local law enforcement from being deputized by ICE for federal civil immigration enforcement. The Governor was joined by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox and more than a dozen district attorneys, county sheriffs and police chiefs. Today, the list of supporters has grown to 28 individuals:

• Albany County Executive Dan McCoy
• Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon
• Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple
• Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox
• Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez
• Broome County Executive Jason Garnar
• Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant
• Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz
• Kingston Deputy Police Chief Ricky Negron
• Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
• Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green
• Mt. Vernon Police Chief Marcel Olifiers
• New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch
• Onondaga County District Attorney William "Bill" Fitzpatrick
• Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley
• Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz
• Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon
• Rochester Police Chief David Smith
• Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans
• Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr.
• Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin
• Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten
• Ulster County District Attorney Manny Nneji
• Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa
• Utica Police Chief Mark Williams
• Utica Deputy Police Chief Ed Noonan
• Washington County District Attorney J. Anthony "Tony" Jordan
• Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins

In New York, 14 law enforcement agencies including 10 County Sheriff's Offices, 1 County Police Department and 3 Municipal Police Departments are currently operating under various 287(g) agreement enforcement models. If enacted, this legislation would void all existing 287(g) agreements across the state.

The Governor's proposal builds on recent legislation introduced as part of her State of the State agenda to protect the constitutional rights of New Yorkers from federal overreach and hold federal agents accountable for unconstitutional action, and to ensure sensitive locations including New Yorkers' homes are protected from civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.

New York will not tolerate flagrant abuses of power by ICE carried out in the name of public safety.

Establishing a Right To Sue Federal Officers for Constitutional Violations

With unprecedented escalations in aggressive federal immigration enforcement, communities across the United States are reeling from heavy-handed tactics that have been alleged to trample on constitutional rights.

To protect communities across the state and ensure accountability when constitutional rights are violated, Governor Hochul will advance legislation that gives New Yorkers a clear path to seek justice when their rights are violated.

The proposal authorizes individuals to bring state-level civil actions against federal officers who violate New Yorkers' U.S. constitutional rights, consistent with the same legal standards that already exist for state and local officers under federal civil rights law. By aligning state law with existing federal civil rights frameworks, this proposal reinforces constitutional protections and provides New Yorkers with a meaningful legal recourse when federal authority is unconstitutionally abused in New York.

Protecting New Yorkers in Sensitive Locations

For decades, federal policy under both parties has limited warrantless civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. Recent federal changes have rolled back these protections, disrupting public safety, school communities, access to care, and trust in critical institutions.

New Yorkers should be able to attend school, access child care, seek medical care, worship, and reside in their private homes in peace. Governor Hochul has proposed legislation to ensure sensitive locations - including homes - can be protected from civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. This measure will help provide stability for children and families in essential community spaces.

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, "Public safety is strongest when our local law enforcement officers are empowered to focus on the communities they serve, not diverted to enforce federal civil immigration policy. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act is a responsible approach that preserves trust between police and the public and ensures our resources are being used efficiently and appropriately. I strongly support Governor Hochul's commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe while standing up for fairness, accountability, and the protection of constitutional rights."

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, "The goal of the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act is a commonsense way to ensure that our local law enforcement personnel and resources are reserved for use in our communities, policing them according to the law and not subjected to federal overreach such as we are seeing across the country with ICE. Eliminating 287(g) agreements sends a signal to residents that local law enforcement will not be an arm of the federal government and that local detention centers are off-limits to ICE for their immigration raids. The Act also provides protections and remedies for residents whose constitutional rights are violated by federal officers. This Act is timely and very necessary, and I thank Governor Hochul for her vision in promoting it."

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, "Governor Hochul's Local Cops, Local Crimes Act is common-sense legislation that will strengthen constitutional safeguards to protect New Yorkers from federal overreach and aggressive enforcement tactics. Our local police and law enforcement should be focused on local crimes, not diverted into federal civil immigration enforcement. I am proud to join my partners in government from across the state in defending the rights of New Yorkers."

Westchester County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins said, "Public safety starts with trust - and Westchester County learned this lesson years ago when we passed the Immigrant Protection Act. When residents are afraid to call the police or cooperate with law enforcement because they fear immigration consequences, everyone becomes less safe. Our local police officers should be focused on preventing crime, supporting victims, and protecting the rights of every person in our communities - not serving as an arm of federal civil immigration enforcement. Governor Hochul's legislation draws the right line and reinforces what matters most - keeping our neighborhoods safe while upholding the constitutional values that define us."

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, "The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act is just common sense - it lets our own officers keep their eyes on neighborhood safety and holds folks who break the law accountable, whether they're here legally or not, while also putting a stop to the kind of federal overreach folks have been talking about after what we've seen in Minnesota."

City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said, "As a Sanctuary City, Rochester has prohibited the use of City resources to enforce federal civil immigration statutes for nearly four decades. These assurances help us build trust and improve public safety by allowing members of our immigrant community to report crimes and access critical services without fear. I applaud Gov. Kathy Hochul for taking action to extend these protections statewide and standing ROC solid for all New Yorkers."

Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant said, "First, I thank Governor Hochul for her investments in law enforcement, which have made a real impact on the safety of the people of Columbia County. As District Attorney in Columbia County, my only focus is the safety and security of the people of our county, and when victims and witnesses are afraid to speak with law enforcement we are less safe as a community. When victims and witnesses are afraid to speak to law- enforcement, they become targets of predators and traffickers and violent criminals. As always, I intend to hold criminals accountable and protect every member of our community. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued leadership in keeping New Yorkers safe, because in New York and in Columbia County we live in a just society."

Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green said, "As District Attorney, my priority is ensuring that law enforcement resources are focused on keeping our communities safe and addressing serious crime. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act helps provide clarity about the proper role of local law enforcement while preserving our ability to work with federal partners on criminal matters. Maintaining public trust is essential to effective policing and prosecution, and this legislation supports that goal. I appreciate the Governor's efforts to advance policies that balance public safety, constitutional principles, and the needs of our communities."

Kingston Police Department Deputy Chief Richard Negron said, "Effective policing starts with clarity - knowing who we serve, what our role is, and where our authority begins and ends. When local officers are asked to take on federal civil immigration enforcement, it blurs that mission and undermines the trust we rely on to keep neighborhoods safe. Governor Hochul's proposal keeps local law enforcement focused on what we do best: responding to crime, protecting victims, and building real partnerships with the community. That focus makes our officers more effective and our city safer."

Contact the Governor's Press Office