Governor Hochul Proposes Plan to Restrict ICE Activity in New York

Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a comprehensive legislative package, titled the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, to expand protections for New York residents regardless of immigration status. The plan aims to curb federal immigration authorities' access to state and local resources for civil enforcement, specifically prohibiting the use of local jails, police technology, and personnel for non-criminal immigration matters.

A central component of the proposal is a ban on face coverings for state, local, and federal law enforcement officers to prevent agents from concealing their identities during public interactions, except for medical or tactical reasons. This measure aligns with the Mandating End of Lawless Tactics (MELT) Act, which received support from State Senator Patricia Fahy and Assemblymember Tony Simone.

Additional restrictions include designating schools and hospitals as sensitive locations that require a judicial warrant for federal access and prohibiting municipalities from entering into 287(g) agreements. The plan would also codify the right to free public education for all students and create a legal mechanism for residents to sue federal officials for constitutional violations.

While the Governor stated that local law enforcement would still coordinate with federal authorities in criminal cases, the proposal faced criticism from the advocacy group Immigrant Defense. Executive Director Yasmine Farhang argued that the inclusion of a probable cause standard for coordination is a disastrous step that could incentivize racial profiling.