New York Law Restricts Local Police Cooperation With ICE

Statewide legislation taking effect in New York on August 25, 2026, prohibits state and municipal police departments from entering agreements with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws or manage detention centers.

The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act bans local employees from utilizing public resources for civil immigration enforcement. However, the legislation permits law enforcement cooperation in cases involving individuals charged with serious violent crimes who face potential deportation.

Concurrently, a joint report released by the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project and LatinoJustice PRLDEF documented local police querying the Flock Safety license plate reader network on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The findings revealed that law enforcement in Nassau County, Beacon, Glen Cove, and Cheektowaga executed vehicle database searches categorized under civil immigration or wanted by ICE tags despite lacking criminal suspicion.

"The police must be here to protect us," said an unidentified New York resident.

Of the 13 local agencies previously holding federal 287(g) agreements, 11 have committed to terminating their contracts. Officials in Nassau County stated they are currently evaluating their legal options regarding compliance.

"This is a victory for immigrant communities and public safety, because every person deserves to live in a community where they can trust the institutions tasked with protecting them," said Jessica González-Rojas, New York State Assembly Member.

Advocacy organizations warned that informal data sharing using third-party surveillance systems remains a concern despite the new statutory restrictions.

"We will be monitoring to ensure immigrant communities are protected and that counties follow the law," said a spokesperson for the Civil Liberties Union. "We will keep fighting to keep police completely out of immigration enforcement."

State oversight of the law will be managed by the newly established Office of Immigrant Trust within the New York Attorney General's office. Civil rights groups have called for mandatory documentation of all automated queries, strict limitations on search justifications, and data purge requirements after 48 hours without a warrant.