NASSAU COUNTY (WABC) — Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced that the county will end its cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and comply with a new state law that bans such partnerships.<\/p>\n
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the measure into law in May, but Nassau County had remained one of the few jurisdictions that had not complied.<\/p>\n
Blakeman said the county has terminated its 287(g) agreement with ICE. He displayed letters sent to the federal agency ending the arrangement and said the county is complying with the state law.<\/p>\n
Surrounded by law enforcement officials on Wednesday, Blakeman said he disagrees with the law but will follow it.<\/p>\n
“I believe in the rule of law, even when it is a bad law and this is a very bad and dangerous law,” Blakeman said.<\/p>\n
The decision came one day after subpoenas were issued to the Nassau Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department. Nassau was one of two counties that had been refusing to comply with the law.<\/p>\n
“This is one of the saddest days of my life as county executive, that because of this terrible and bad law that we have to adhere to I know it is going to make it more dangerous in Nassau County,” Blakeman said.<\/p>\n