Fifteen New York sheriffs filed a federal lawsuit demanding the immediate halt of state enforcement on a new law prohibiting local agencies from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, setting up a constitutional confrontation over immigration authority and local control.

Constitutional Authority Clash

The sheriffs argue they possess independent authority to determine cooperation with federal immigration agents because they are elected officials, not state appointees. Their lawsuit contends the state cannot force them to terminate agreements they legally established with the federal government. The legal challenge directly questions whether state officials can override decisions made by county-level law enforcement agencies regarding federal partnerships on immigration enforcement matters.

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued subpoenas to sheriff’s offices in Broome, Steuben, Nassau, and Rensselaer counties, along with Nassau County Police Department, after their responses about unwinding ICE agreements were deemed unsatisfactory. The Broome County Sheriff’s office claimed full compliance yet joined the lawsuit anyway. James’s office warned that civil suits would follow if agencies ignore the subpoenas.

Governor and County Executive at Odds

Governor Kathy Hochul and James released a joint statement dismissing the lawsuit as wasteful spending of taxpayer money. They noted that twelve entities with ICE agreements have already complied without incident, and most New York law enforcement agencies successfully protect communities without ICE collaboration. The statement suggested the sheriffs’ claims about operational necessity reveal more about their capabilities than the law’s requirements.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, currently running for governor and a vocal supporter of President Trump’s immigration policies, waited until the compliance deadline before terminating required agreements. He called the law dangerous and claimed it was “written in the blood of victims past, present and future.” Despite complying with technical requirements, Blakeman pledged to continue working with ICE wherever the law permits.

What This Means

The lawsuit creates a direct test of state versus local authority on immigration enforcement cooperation. Blakeman argued that previous cooperation allowed Nassau County to transfer dangerous criminals directly to ICE without community release, avoiding raids on churches, schools, daycare centers, or hospitals. The new law does not prohibit police from working with ICE on criminal cases, though ICE can no longer rent space at county jails. This legal battle will determine whether elected sheriffs maintain independent decision-making power over federal partnerships or must defer to state mandates restricting such cooperation.