New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said local police can no longer be deputized for federal civil immigration enforcement. She warned departments and sheriff’s offices that maintain agreements with ICE could face legal action. Hochul said the restriction would keep locally funded officers focused on local crime. She also accused ICE of conducting raids that descend into chaos and violence.
The remarks came as a state law championed by Hochul became enforceable.
The law bans agreements between local law enforcement agencies and ICE for civil immigration enforcement. Hochul argued those arrangements divert officers from policing their own communities.
“Local police, local crimes,” she said, rejecting the use of local officers to pursue federal deportation quotas.
Under the law, ICE can no longer use locally funded police to carry out the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. Local officers also cannot be deputized to participate in civil immigration raids.
Hochul described ICE as an “out-of-control agency” with an $85 billion budget. She said its raids too often descend into disorder and violence.
The restriction does not prohibit all cooperation with ICE. Local officers can still assist when “a real crime has been committed,” according to Hochul.
“But on civil immigration matters, ICE is on their own,” she said.
The governor ended with a warning for agencies that maintain prohibited agreements. Any police department or sheriff’s office that disobeys the law “will face legal action,” she said.
Kathy Hochul Faces Backlash Over New York ICE Restrictions
That warning quickly became a focus of criticism, with users questioning Hochul’s authority and the legality of the restrictions.
“She should be arrested for obstructing federal agents,” one user wrote. Another challenged her authority, writing, “You have No authority over @ICEgov. Follow federal law you swore to uphold.”
A separate response stated, “Surely, even she knows that Federal law supersedes State law.”
Questions also emerged over whether the restrictions could withstand a legal challenge. “I don’t see how this is legal to stop local law enforcement co operating with federal. Surely this will result in departments being suspended?” another user wrote.
The law is now enforceable, while Hochul has said agencies that maintain prohibited ICE agreements will face legal action.
