New York, NY—Today, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James announced a lawsuit against the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office for failing to comply with the state’s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act. The legislation prohibits New York State and local law enforcement agencies and local governments from entering into or maintaining 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for federal civil immigration enforcement and requires any agreements in place to be terminated by August 25, 2026. Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault has refused to terminate its 287(g) agreement.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“We applaud Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Hochul for taking every step necessary to ensure that New York’s law enforcement agencies remain accountable to the communities they serve and focused on keeping all New Yorkers safe, not carrying out ICE and the Trump administration’s deportation agenda. Every law enforcement agency in New York has a duty to serve and protect every resident, while upholding state and local law. Instead of complying with the new state law, the Sheriff’s Office in Rensselaer County has chosen to defy state law, putting political posturing ahead of its responsibilities and obligations to its community. This lawsuit makes clear that no one is above the law, not even an elected sheriff.”