NYCLU: Trump Can’t Force NY Law Enforcement To Do ICE’s Bidding

NEW YORK – Today, following reports of the Justice Department calling for an investigation of a New York sheriff who lawfully released a non-citizen New Yorker from police custody, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement, attributable to Director of Immigrants’ Rights Litigation Amy Belsher:

“New York law enforcement have zero obligation to carry out ICE’s bidding — and it’s unconstitutional for Trump and his deportation machine to try to force them to do so.

“The Constitution prohibits the federal government from forcing states to implement federal immigration law. The Trump administration cannot disregard the 10th Amendment in its haste to carry out mass deportations.

“State law also prohibits law enforcement from detaining people for civil immigration violations. New Yorkers should be able to rely on their local law enforcement to keep them safe, not spend their time helping the Trump administration separate families.

“Despite what Trump and his friends at ICE may think, they are not above the law.”

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