WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Two North Country sheriffs are part of more than a dozen New York sheriffs who plan to sue the state over the ICE cooperation ban.<\/p>\n
The law bans 287(g) agreements with federal immigration enforcement, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Those agreements give certain immigration enforcement powers to local police.<\/p>\n
St. Lawrence County Sheriff Rick Engle had previously planned a partnership between his sheriff\u2019s office and ICE.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need an agreement to do the right thing,\u201d Engle said.<\/p>\n
Sheriffs sue the state<\/p>\n
The group of sheriffs is suing the state, arguing the law is unconstitutional.<\/p>\n
Chris Tague said, \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make New York safer my friends, and frankly I\u2019m tired of Albany politicians treating our sheriffs like they\u2019re the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Barnett is part of the group suing, arguing the limitation could endanger citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took an oath to protect and serve our citizens,\u201d Barnett said. \u201cI\u2019ll be damned if I get played like a political pawn and you jeopardize the citizens of Jefferson County for some dark sided political agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n
State responds<\/p>\n
A joint statement from Governor Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James says the lawsuit is a waste of taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n
The statement says ICE terrorizes communities and families with indiscriminate raids and detains people without regard for criminal record.<\/p>\n
Hochul and James do not expect the suit to hold up in court.<\/p>\n
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