Rensselaer County Defies New York Ban on ICE Agreements

Members of the No Kings Collective Albany protested outside the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Troy on Monday, demanding the county end its 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The demonstration follows the May 26 passage of the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, which banned such agreements statewide and mandated their dissolution by August 25, 2026.

While other New York counties complied with the law, Steve McLaughlin, the Rensselaer County Executive, and Sheriff Kyle Bourgault refused to terminate the deal. They argue the program is essential for identifying dangerous criminals and internationally wanted persons. This defiance has triggered a legal conflict; the county filed a lawsuit challenging the ban in late August, and Governor Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James subsequently sued the Sheriff's Office for failing to comply with state law.