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New York City Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul and City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch attend a press conference in New York City
(New York, NY) — Governor Kathy Hochul is moving to end cooperation between ICE and local police agencies across New York State. Currently, eight counties — including Nassau — allow ICE to deputize local officers to help detain undocumented immigrants.
Speaking at a press conference Friday, Hochul said ICE has become “out of control,” calling it a “rogue federal agency” that she says is spreading fear in local communities. She announced proposed legislation that would sharply limit cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, saying, “This ends now.” The measure, dubbed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, would bar local police from assisting ICE in civil immigration enforcement and from using police technology to track people who have not committed crimes.
Hochul stressed the legislation would not interfere with criminal enforcement. “When individuals enter this country illegally and commit crimes, I want them arrested and tried,” she said, adding that convicted offenders should still be imprisoned and deported — a process she said New York has followed for decades.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said cooperation with federal agencies will continue in areas tied to public safety. She emphasized that partnerships involving terrorism, violent crime, guns, and gangs remain intact regardless of immigration status, and said the proposed legislation does not interfere with that work. Tisch and several other police leaders across the state have voiced support for the bill.
Nassau County has been among the most active in working with ICE on both criminal and civil immigration enforcement. As of Friday, there was no comment from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
