State
Immigration
Photo: SebastianBlumeArt · CC BY-SA 4.0
Local police should stay out of federal immigration enforcement.
Politician
Stance
KH
Kathy Hochul
G
Stay out
BB
Bruce Blakeman
G
Take part
LJ
Letitia James
A
Stay out
SK
Saritha Komatireddy
A
Not on record
TD
Thomas DiNapoli
C
Not on record
JH
Joseph Hernandez
C
Not on record
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You
Where do you stand?
Against
Not sure
For
The issue
Whether local police and jails should help federal agents find and deport immigrants.
A state law banning formal deals between local police and ICE, called 287(g) agreements, took effect Aug. 25, 2026. Fifteen county sheriffs have sued to overturn it.
Stay out
When local police stay out of deportations, immigrants report crimes and serve as witnesses, and officers can focus on local crime.
Take part
Working with ICE helps remove people accused of crimes, and counties should decide for themselves whether to partner with federal agents.
Good to know
1
About 12 local agencies had 287(g) agreements before the ban. Before 2025, only one county did. Source ↗
2
The 2026 law also bans masks for all law enforcement, lets private places like hospitals and churches deny ICE entry, and protects children's right to attend school regardless of immigration status. Source ↗
3
The law bans informal deals that work like 287(g) agreements, but not all informal cooperation with ICE. The broader 'New York for All' bill would have gone further; it was not included in the budget. Source ↗
Words to know
ICE
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency that arrests and deports immigrants.
287(g) agreement
A contract that lets local officers do some immigration work, like checking status and holding people for ICE.
Latest
WAMC / WXXI News
Rensselaer Co. among 15 sheriffs suing NY over ICE cooperation ban
2026-08-26
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Spectrum News
287(g) agreement ban takes effect in N.Y.
2026-08-25
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New York Focus
Albany Strikes a Deal on Immigration Protections
2026-05-22
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City & State New York
As expected, budget immigration protections fall short of full New York for All proposal
2026-05-21
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