Hochul Introduces Bill To Bar Local Police From Aiding ICE

Kathy Hochul introduced the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act on Jan. 30 to void New York's 287(g) agreements and prohibit local police and jails from carrying out civil immigration enforcement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Hochul said in a Manhattan press conference the bill responds to ICE actions and pointed to the Minneapolis killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti as catalysts for ending local cooperation.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson previously told the Washington Examiner that partnerships with state and local law enforcement are "key to removing criminal illegal aliens," while DHS did not respond to requests for comment on the proposal.

ICE currently has more than 1,372 287(g) agreements in 40 states and roughly 14 in New York, and Hochul cited ICE's $85 million budget as a reason to end local cooperation, her office said.

Hochul said she will work with legislative partners "to get this passed as quickly as possible," and her office said the proposal would still allow cooperation with federal authorities on criminal investigations.