New Law Would Limit Local Police Cooperation With ICE, Gov. Hochul Says

NEW YORK CITY — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday introduced new legislation that would ban ICE from deputize local police to act as federal agents and assist in immigration enforcement.

"We call it the local Cops Local Crimes Act, very simply, local police focus on local crimes, focus on protecting our streets," Hochul said during a press conference. "And I'll work closely with my partners in the legislature to get this passed as quickly as possible. With this proposal, we're sending a strong message to ICE: You will not weaponize local police officers against their own communities in the State of New York. You will not use our police technology to track people who've done nothing wrong, you will not throw innocent people into our jails."

The announcement from the governor comes after Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis this month. In the aftermath of the two incidents, Hochul has called for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign from her position.

“We are called to act in this moment of tyranny," Hochul said. "This is about a rogue federal agency that's been unleashed on American streets for the sole purpose of creating chaos, carnage and fear."

The governor said the law would prevent local law enforcement from assisting ICE agents in detaining or deporting law-abiding citizens.

The law would not prevent local police from assisting ICE in detaining undocumented criminals.

"When individuals enter this country illegally and commit crimes, I want them arrested and tried," Hochul said. "If they're convicted, they must be imprisoned and deported."