New York Sheriffs Sue Hochul Over Anti-ICE Law as Governor Tells Opponents ‘Bring It On’

Fifteen New York sheriffs are taking Gov. Kathy Hochul to federal court over a new state law restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, setting up a major battle over immigration enforcement and local police authority.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday, the same day Hochul’s “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” took effect. The law prohibits local law enforcement agencies from maintaining agreements that allow officers to assist ICE with federal civil immigration enforcement.

Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault is leading the challenge alongside sheriffs representing counties across the state. The lawsuit names Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James and the state of New York as defendants.

The sheriffs argue that Hochul’s law is unconstitutional and interferes with the authority of independently elected local law enforcement officials. They contend that sheriffs should be allowed to determine whether cooperation with federal immigration authorities is necessary to protect their communities.

At the center of the dispute are agreements authorized under Section 287(g) of federal immigration law. Those partnerships allow ICE to delegate certain immigration-enforcement responsibilities to trained state and local officers.

Several New York jurisdictions had entered into such arrangements, including agreements allowing local jails to hold federal immigration detainees. Nassau County, for example, had set aside 50 jail cells for ICE detainees under an agreement championed by Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Hochul has taken the opposite position, arguing that local police should concentrate their resources on investigating crimes rather than enforcing federal civil immigration laws. Her administration says restricting ICE partnerships will improve trust between police departments and immigrant communities.

The Democratic governor delivered a defiant message as the restrictions took effect. She warned that police departments and sheriff’s offices maintaining prohibited ICE agreements could face legal action from the state.

Hochul also dismissed the sheriffs’ legal challenge and expressed confidence that her administration would prevail. Responding directly to officials seeking to block the law, the governor declared, “Bring it on.”

James has similarly warned local governments that they are expected to comply. Her office issued subpoenas seeking information about ICE agreements involving several jurisdictions, including Nassau, Broome, Steuben and Rensselaer counties.

Republican officials argue that Hochul and James are putting politics ahead of public safety. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin accused the Hochul administration of waging a “war on the police” while making it more difficult for local officials to cooperate with federal agents.

The sheriffs’ lawsuit argues that the state is improperly preventing local officials from participating in partnerships expressly authorized by federal law. The plaintiffs are seeking to have the restrictions declared unconstitutional and blocked from being enforced.

Blakeman, who is challenging Hochul in New York’s gubernatorial election, has also emerged as one of the most prominent opponents of the new policy. His running mate, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, is among the 15 sheriffs participating in the federal lawsuit.

The dispute has created a growing showdown between Albany and counties that want to continue working with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement. Some jurisdictions have already ended their ICE agreements, while others have resisted the state’s demands.

Hochul maintains that local authorities can still cooperate with federal officials in criminal investigations and cases involving judicial warrants. Her administration argues that the new restrictions are specifically designed to prevent local resources from being used for federal civil immigration enforcement.

Opponents say that distinction could prevent sheriffs from using tools they believe are necessary to keep dangerous individuals off the streets. They also argue that decisions about cooperation with federal authorities should remain in the hands of locally elected law enforcement officials rather than being dictated by Albany.

The fight is now headed to federal court, where judges will determine whether New York can prohibit its sheriffs from entering into immigration-enforcement partnerships authorized by federal law. With Hochul promising to enforce the restrictions and rebellious sheriffs refusing to back down, the battle over ICE cooperation in New York is far from over.