More than a dozen sheriffs in New York are suing state officials over the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, a law signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in May that took effect on Tuesday, August 26, 2026. The law bars local and state law enforcement agencies from entering into or maintaining agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement.

The federal lawsuit, led by Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault, argues that the law is unconstitutional and unlawfully restricts elected sheriffs’ ability to enter into federally authorized immigration-enforcement agreements.

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin criticized the law, stating, "Today, Kathy Hochul escalated her administration’s war on the police and she expanded policies to put criminals before the citizens of New York."

Governor Hochul responded firmly at a press conference, saying, "No county executive should think that they are above the law in the state of New York." She added, "And to those suing us, those trying to block the implementation of this law who’ve tried before and failed, our law has already been upheld by the courts, but if you try me again, I say, bring it on."

The law also prohibits new agreements to house civil immigration detainees, requiring existing detention agreements to be terminated within three months. While police may assist ICE in cases involving violent or other non-immigration crimes, they are barred from diverting local resources to civil immigration enforcement.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican and Hochul’s challenger, has opposed the law, stating, "Kathy Hochul, where do you want those guns? What neighborhood do you want to destroy? Where do you want those drugs? What community do you want to destroy? Where do you want those illegal immigrants with criminal records to live? You want it back in New York? We say no."

The Department of Homeland Security criticized Hochul’s stance, saying she "must stop putting politics above public safety."

Sources