New York Orders 12 Local Police Agencies To End Federal Immigration Pacts By August 25

Above Photo: Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul/Courtesy of the NYAG Office Additional Photos: Wikimedia Commons New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul ordered 12 local law enforcement agencies to terminate their federal immigration agreements by August 25, 2026, according to a press release from the New York State Attorney General’s website. The directive targets 287(g) partnerships under the new Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, affecting agencies like the Rensselaer and Niagara County Sheriff’s Offices. The new Office of Immigrant Trust (OIT), a pioneering statewide bureau within the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), sent letters to the 12 local law enforcement agencies in New York that currently hold 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Local police badges are meant to protect local neighborhoods, not to act as an arm for federal deportation forces,” an OAG representative told reporters at a press conference. The 12 municipal and county offices holding active 287(g) contracts included Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Village of Allegany Police Department. Under the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, local departments are barred from using public resources, on-duty time, or local jails to detain individuals for civil immigration violations. Affected groups have until August 14, 2026, to report their compliance steps back to the state. While immigrant-rights advocates commend the state for restoring community trust, some local sheriffs have pushed back, calling the state restrictions illegal and threatening local legal challenges. Meanwhile, federal authorities have filed separate lawsuits against New York over these transparency and anti-cooperation laws, setting up an intense legal showdown ahead of the August deadline.