The state Office of Immigrant Trust sent letters to county and city law enforcement agencies with agreements to assist federal immigration authorities that said they must end them by Aug. 25.  

Twelve law enforcement agencies in New York currently have these policies, known as 287(g) agreements, in place. Some of the counties with these agreements include Broome, Madison, Nassau, Rensselaer and Steuben counties. The letter sent out today was to notify the agencies that these agreements now violate state law.  

“Nobody is above the law. In New York, we will not tolerate the diversion of local resources for federal civil immigration enforcement at the expense of public safety. That is why we passed a commonsense set of laws standing up against federal overreach and ensuring that local law enforcement is not deputized by the highest funded law enforcement agency in the county,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul in a press release.  

In addition to the 287(g) agreements both formal and informal, the law does not allow the use of correctional facilities and juvenile detention facilities to be used for federal immigration enforcement.  

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against New York state challenging the constitutionality of these new state laws which ban 287(g) agreements, as well as other requirements that prohibit federal officers from wearing masks. 

“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Amricans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties. New York’s anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand,” said U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche in a press release.

The OIT, which is a new office within the office of the state Attorney General, was created as part of the legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on May 27. It is designed to help support immigrant communities and limit the use of state resources for federal immigration enforcement.  

“The Office of Immigrant Trust will help ensure that schools, local governments and public agencies remain places of safety and support, rather than agents of the federal administration’s campaign of fear and intimidation,” said Attorney General Letitia James in a press release.  

Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment.