New York Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act — a proposal that would prohibit local law-enforcement agencies from being deputized by federal immigration authorities like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and stop counties, cities, towns, village police, sheriffs, and even the State Police from assisting federal immigration enforcement operations.
By Hans Wilder — Watertown, NY
Local Voices Matter — Especially at the Northern Border
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act — a proposal that would prohibit local law-enforcement agencies from being deputized by federal immigration authorities like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and stop counties, cities, towns, village police, sheriffs, and even the State Police from assisting federal immigration enforcement operations.
The bill, announced this week in Albany, would dismantle existing 287(g) agreements that allow local police to cooperate with ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to identify, detain, and transfer criminal aliens. It would also ban the use of local jails and facilities for federal civil immigration enforcement unless a valid 287(g) engagement exists under separate federal law.
Why This Matters in Watertown
In Watertown and across Northern New York — right on the Canadian border — cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agencies isn’t just paperwork — it’s public safety. Our proximity to an international land border means Border Patrol and ICE regularly work with local sheriffs and police to intercept smuggling, deter cross-border crimes, and help keep communities safe.
Sheriffs and local chiefs in border counties have historically relied on 287(g) authority and partnership with federal agents to act quickly when criminal aliens are identified, especially in multi-jurisdictional investigations. These cooperative frameworks let local officers spot a threat and call in federal specialists who have immigration enforcement expertise — often before an incident goes further south. A rollback could leave gaps that organized smugglers and criminal networks could exploit.
Local Leadership Weighs In
Longtime Northern New York law-enforcement professionals and residents including former CBP Chief Tom Homan, who hails from upstate New York and is familiar with our unique border challenges, have underscored how federal and local collaboration saves lives and secures communities. A hard prohibition on assistance, they argue, would weaken the safety net along our northern frontier.
Border Realities Don’t Disappear With Policy
Advocates of the legislation say it protects immigrant communities and builds trust. But for towns like Watertown and communities that rely on quick action at the border, the bill casts a long shadow. Northern New Yorkers know that CBP and ICE don’t just show up for headlines — they are critical partners in the everyday work of securing ports of entry and roads leading south, and their cooperation with local police has historically helped disrupt human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and serial offenders crossing the border.
What Happens Next
The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act must still move through the state legislature. Supporters in Albany say it’s about preserving community trust and civil liberties. Opponents — including many in law enforcement and border communities — warn that prohibiting local help to federal agents will undermine public safety where it matters most. With Watertown’s border position, this fight isn’t theoretical — it hits home.
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