Key facts
- New York's Republican gubernatorial candidate plans to continue cooperation agreements with ICE.
- These agreements, known as 287(g), allow local law enforcement to assist federal immigration officials.
- Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced his county will join a lawsuit against the termination of these agreements.
- McLaughlin stated the agreements are crucial for identifying dangerous criminals and individuals with deportation orders.
New York's Republican gubernatorial candidate is indicating he will not cease cooperation arrangements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), known as 287(g) agreements. This stance is set to intensify the gubernatorial race's focus on immigration enforcement policy. A recent Siena Research Institute poll revealed that 63 percent of New York voters believe ICE's tactics have become excessive. State officials have been anticipating a potential increase in enforcement actions this summer, targeting the state's estimated 825,000 undocumented immigrants. Tom Homan, a former Trump border czar, has suggested that any deportation campaigns would be more targeted than previous efforts. The Trump administration has contended that prohibiting 287(g) agreements would impede federal immigration officials' ability to apprehend dangerous individuals. The opposition to the measure by two counties has also galvanized Republicans in New York. Steve McLaughlin, Rensselaer County Executive, has signaled his county's participation in an upcoming lawsuit challenging the termination of these agreements. At a press conference, McLaughlin asserted that the measure would prevent police from running individuals in custody through an ICE database to ascertain if they are subject to deportation orders. He emphasized the importance of knowing the identity of individuals, particularly those with criminal backgrounds or affiliations with gangs like MS-13, for public safety.