New York Sheriffs Sue Over Hochul Law Limiting ICE Cooperation
A coalition of New York sheriffs sued the state in federal court after Gov. Kathy Hochul's Local Cops, Local Crimes Act took effect Tuesday, saying it bars them from entering ICE immigration-enforcement agreements.[1]
Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault is the lead plaintiff in the suit, which says the law unconstitutionally restricts sheriffs from entering federally authorized agreements with ICE.[1] The law bars new agreements to house civil immigration detainees and requires existing detention contracts to be terminated under their terms within three months of the effective date.[1] Hochul warned any police department or sheriff's office that maintains an ICE agreement will face legal action and told those suing, "bring it on." Fox News Attorney General Letitia James issued subpoenas to the sheriff's offices of Broome, Steuben, Nassau and Rensselaer counties and to the Nassau County Police Department over their ICE cooperation.[1] Nassau County Executive and GOP gubernatorial challenger Bruce Blakeman said he would "probably" join the sheriffs' lawsuit.[1]
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act in May, and the law took effect Tuesday, August 25, 2026.[1]
The federal suit sets up a likely court fight over whether Albany can block local jails from housing civil immigration detainees and whether sheriffs have authority to enter federal immigration agreements.
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📌 Key Facts
- The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act took effect Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after being signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in May.
- A federal lawsuit led by Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault argues the law unconstitutionally restricts sheriffs from entering federally authorized immigration-enforcement agreements with ICE.
- The law bars new agreements to house civil immigration detainees and requires existing detention agreements to be terminated under their contract terms within three months of the effective date.
- Hochul said any police department or sheriff's office that maintains an ICE agreement will face legal action and told those suing the state, "bring it on."
- Attorney General Letitia James issued subpoenas to the sheriff's offices of Broome, Steuben, Nassau and Rensselaer counties and to the Nassau County Police Department over their ICE cooperation.
- Nassau County Executive and GOP gubernatorial challenger Bruce Blakeman said he would "probably" join the sheriffs' lawsuit.
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