Albany County lawmakers have proposed resolutions that limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The county legislature says it introduced two new resolutions.
One resolution prohibits the county from using public funds to travel on, promote or partner with any airline in deportation activities. The other resolution prohibits local agencies from cooperating with or facilitating any operations of ICE or border patrol in the county.
However, lawmakers say this will not prevent agencies from complying with federal immigration laws.
In a post on its Facebook page, the legislature said it was grateful to County Executive Dan McCoy, the district attorney’s office and the sheriff’s office for support “as we collectively work on common-sense legislation to protect public safety and rebuild trust with our neighbors.”
Sheriff Craig Apple supported the resolution that would prohibit local agencies’ cooperation with ICE, saying it doesn’t keep his office from doing its job.
“Our mission is to protect and serve the public, not to create fear in the communities we are sworn to protect,” Apple said in a statement. “Tactics rooted in violence erode trust in law enforcement, and that is not who we are or what we stand for.”
In a statement last week, Albany County Republican Committee Chairman James McGaughan said proposals like the legislation introduced Monday “create victims by design.”
“Instead of facing these consequences, local Democrats are doubling down with an irrational new proposal which would violate federal law and make our situation much worse,” McGaughan said.