Full Breakdown
New York’s “Local Cops, Local Crimes” Act Triggers State-Sheriff Legal Clash
8/28/2026, 10:33:09 PM
Core Event
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the “Local Cops, Local Crimes” Act in late May, banning 287(g) agreements with ICE. The law took effect on a Tuesday in late August, giving agencies three months to end existing contracts. That same day, fifteen county sheriffs filed a federal lawsuit alleging the ban infringes on locally elected officials’ authority. The suit names Governor Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and the state as defendants and seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
Background & Context
Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act lets local officers perform certain civil immigration-enforcement functions for ICE. Before the ban, about a dozen New York agencies—including jails in Madison, Rensselaer and Nassau—had such agreements, allowing ICE to house detainees and query jail databases. Proponents framed the legislation as a way to keep police focused on “local crimes” rather than federal immigration matters.
Timeline
- May 26 – Ban signed into law.
- May 27 – Agencies given 90 days to begin termination.
- July 24 – State sends warning letters to twelve agencies still holding agreements.
- Late August (Tuesday) – Law becomes effective; sheriffs file their lawsuit.
Key Figures & Groups
- Kathy Hochul – Governor, author of the law.
- Letitia James – Attorney General, overseeing enforcement.
- Bruce Blakeman – Nassau County Executive, opponent of the ban.
- Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault – Lead plaintiff.
- Sheriffs Todd Hood, Fred Akshar, Eric Butler – Additional plaintiffs.
- Steve McLaughlin – Rensselaer County Executive, supporting the suit.
- Dale Wilcox – FAIR executive director, representing the sheriffs.
Data & Statistics
- 15 sheriffs from counties across the state are plaintiffs.
- 12 agencies received July 24 letters; most have complied, but two (Nassau and Rensselaer) have not confirmed termination.
- The law affects all agencies that previously held 287(g) agreements and other municipalities that housed ICE detainees under separate contracts.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Hochul called the ban a public-safety measure, saying ICE’s “dangerous and aggressive tactics” divert police resources from violent crime. Her office warned that non-compliance will trigger civil action.
The sheriffs argue the ban violates the New York State Constitution, the U.S. Constitution’s Contract Clause, and the Tenth Amendment by removing sheriffs’ authority to enter federally authorized contracts.
Criticism & Opposition
Blakeman, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, labeled the ban “purely political” and said Nassau will meet technical requirements while joining the lawsuit.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
State officials say most of the twelve agencies have terminated their 287(g) agreements, yet the governor’s office identified three agencies (Nassau County Police, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office) that have not confirmed compliance. This discrepancy highlights a lack of publicly available verification.
The dispute pits the governor’s public-safety rationale against sheriffs’ constitutional claims, setting the stage for a federal court decision that could reshape state-local authority over immigration enforcement in New York.
