Hochul's ICE Ban Faces Defiance as Seven Agencies Hold Out

Hochul's ICE Ban Faces Defiance as Seven Agencies Hold Out

45D AGOSTATENY GOVERNOR KATHLEEN HOCHULICE

Hochul's ICE Ban Faces Defiance as Seven Agencies Hold Out

What's the gist?

Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law banning local police agreements with ICE, but seven New York agencies have not yet dissolved those pacts as an August 25 deadline approaches. Several holdouts have political ties to Hochul's Republican rival, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Context

Hochul signed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act in May 2026, prohibiting local agencies from helping ICE with civil immigration enforcement. New York's AG created a new Office of Immigrant Trust to enforce compliance. Nationally, states are split — New Hampshire, by contrast, actively encourages 287(g) agreements.

Positive takes

Enforcing Clear Boundaries. Hochul's law draws a firm line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement, ensuring officers focus on community crime rather than civil immigration matters that are the federal government's responsibility.

Standing Up to Federal Overreach. Supporters argue the law protects immigrant communities from being policed by local officers who lack federal immigration training, and prevents New York taxpayers from subsidizing federal enforcement priorities.

Steady Legal Pressure. The state gave agencies a reasonable deadline and created an enforcement office to follow through, showing a structured, lawful approach rather than an abrupt crackdown.

Negative takes

Law Enforcement Pushback. Critics argue the law handcuffs sheriffs and police departments that want to voluntarily cooperate with federal agencies, removing local discretion and undermining public safety partnerships that have worked for years.

Politically Convenient Timing. With Hochul facing Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman — whose Nassau County has one of the most prominent ICE agreements in the state — some see the enforcement push as a campaign-season move as much as a policy one.

Compliance in Question. Seven agencies still haven't ended their agreements days before the deadline, raising doubts about whether Hochul and the AG have enough leverage to actually enforce the law against resistant counties.

— by VoiceWhat's Voice? Read this.

News sources

01
7 agencies keep agreements with ICE, despite state actions against it
Emily Kenny · Spectrum News · August 18, 2026
02
Nassau silent on ending ICE pact, despite new state ban
Steve Hughes · Newsday · August 20, 2026
03
Rindge police sign ICE agreement to gain immigration enforcement powers
Ashley Saari · Monadnock Ledger-Transcript · August 19, 2026
04
God Bless and back the BLUE! 💙💙💙 7 NY State agencies keep agreements with ICE, despite state actions against it https://t.co/ZQBOtrQOSX
@Anne8065 · Twitter
05
NY1: 7 NY agencies keep agreements with ICE, despite state actions against it… https://t.co/3R6oIuv5uU
@EMPIREREPORTNY · Twitter
06
This visit came as New York state is requiring localities with agreements with ICE to end them by Aug. 25, under the Dignity Not Detentio...
@BPHACaucus · Twitter

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