The New York Attorney General’s Office has directed the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office and 11 other law enforcement agencies to end agreements that allow local officers to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Chief Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Meghan Faux informed Sheriff James Allard that new provisions in the state budget prohibit local governments and police agencies from entering, renewing or extending agreements under which their employees perform immigration enforcement duties.
The legislation, called the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, affects Steuben County’s agreement with ICE under Section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act. The program allows ICE to authorize state and local officers to perform certain federal immigration functions.
Under the new state law, local officers may not arrest someone based on a civil ICE warrant or detainer request. They are also prohibited from stopping and questioning people based on suspicion that they lack lawful immigration status.
Existing ICE agreements will be considered inconsistent with state law and become void and unenforceable Aug. 25, according to the Attorney General’s Office. That would prohibit the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office from carrying out duties assigned by ICE under its current agreement.
The Attorney General’s Office demanded a written response confirming compliance and proof that the agreement has been terminated by 5 p.m. Aug. 14.
Other agencies receiving letters included the Nassau County police and sheriff’s departments; the Madison, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Broome, Rensselaer and Otsego county sheriff’s offices; and police departments in Mohawk, Camden and Allegany.
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