New York, NY—Today, the New York State Legislature is slated to pass the Public Protections and General Government bill of the FY27 budget, which includes an immigration package agreed upon by the Governor and Legislature. The package ends formal partnerships with ICE, such as 287(g) agreements, establishes the right for New Yorkers to sue federal agents who violate their constitutional rights in court, and bars schools, and state and local agencies from sharing information or facilitating civil immigration enforcement. A ban on Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSA), which prohibits local jails from contracting with ICE for the purposes of immigrant detention, will also go into effect. Localities will also be prohibited from incentivizing the construction, sale, or management of future immigrant detention facilities. Civil arrests are barred in sensitive locations including schools, hospitals, polling sites, churches and childcare centers, and enshrines into state law that all children in New York have the right to public education regardless of immigration status. However, the package does not ban informal collusion between local police with ICE and Border Patrol, including calling Border Patrol during a traffic stop or turning someone over to ICE after an arrest. This informal collusion is how many New Yorkers end up funnelled into detention and deported.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Every New York family deserves to live in safety, without fear that our state resources could be used against them to meet Trump’s deportation agenda. The immigration package adopted by the Governor and Legislature takes meaningful steps to protect immigrant New Yorkers. By ending 287(g) and IGSA agreements, and banning collusion with ICE from schools, state agencies, and local agencies, thousands of New York families will be safe from detention and deportation. These important protections were achieved by the tireless advocacy of immigrant New Yorkers who stood up for their rights despite the unprecedented threats to their families. However, the legislative package falls short of offering comprehensive protections by continuing to permit informal law enforcement collusion with ICE and Border Patrol. We will continue to fight to end this harmful informal collusion, and call on Albany to step up and pass New York For All in its entirety to truly protect New Yorkers from Trump’s lawless and violent attacks.”