New York issues guidance on deadline for local immigration detention agreements – WCAX

New York issues guidance on deadline for local immigration detention agreements  WCAX

Under the law, agencies with prohibited agreements must use their termination provisions by Nov. 25. NEW YORK (WBNG) — New York officials are reminding county leaders and sheriffs that they have until Nov. 25 to end agreements to hold people in local jails for federal civil immigration violations. On Friday, Nov. 6, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James announced that the Attorney General’s Office of Immigrant Trust sent guidance letters to county executives and sheriffs statewide outlining the requirement. The deadline is part of the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which Hochul signed in May 2026. The law prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from maintaining agreements to house or detain people on behalf of federal authorities solely for civil immigration violations.

“When I signed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act into law, I made it clear that our local law enforcement should be focused on protecting New Yorkers and keeping dangerous criminals off our streets, not helping ICE carry out their aggressive deportation agenda,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Allowing ICE to utilize our local jails for civil immigration detention does not make New York safer.” Under the law, agencies with prohibited agreements must use their termination provisions by Nov. 25. After that date, the agreements are void and unenforceable under state law. If an agreement covers