Nassau, Rensselaer Counties Refuse to Comply with State Law Banning 287(g) Agreements

NEW YORK – Today, New York State’s new law barring state and local law enforcement from formally working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officially took effect. This means any current 287(g) agreements are null, void, and must be terminated immediately. Nassau County and Rensselaer County subsequently announced their refusal to comply. In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement, attributable to Executive Director Donna Lieberman:

“Nassau and Rensselaer counties are not above the law. Last legislative session, Albany rightly rejected Trump’s mass deportation machine by barring state and local cops from entering into 287(g) agreements and acting as instruments of ICE. For New Yorkers who have been terrified to go to work or take their kids to school, this is a meaningful step towards living freer, safer lives.

“The counties willfully violating this law have abandoned respect for safety, reason, and the rule of law in order to fearmonger, score cheap political points, and terrorize immigrant communities. 287(g) agreements that turn local law enforcement into ICE’s minions threaten public safety, sow distrust, and rip families apart. Nassau’s 287(g) agreement has resulted in unlawful civil immigration enforcement, rampant racial profiling, and violations of state law — that’s why we sued to stop it.

“The NYCLU will be watching closely to protect immigrant communities and ensure local governments obey state law that keeps local police out of immigration enforcement.”

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