New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing legal and political opposition over a law limiting local law-enforcement cooperation with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Republican gubernatorial challenger and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman called the measure dangerous and linked it to recent crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants, while a group of sheriffs has sued to challenge the ban on certain ICE agreements. The dispute matters because it tests the balance between state control of policing and federal immigration enforcement.

The law, called the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, prohibits local participation in 287(g) agreements that allow officers to perform some federal immigration functions. Fifteen sheriffs from across New York have filed a legal challenge, while Hochul has indicated that non-compliant counties could face action from Attorney General Letitia James. Hochul’s office says the measure does not prevent police from pursuing dangerous criminals or co-operating with federal authorities on criminal investigations, arguing that civil immigration enforcement can divert local resources from public safety.