New York Moves to Ban Local Jails from Renting Space to ICE Amid Growing Pushback

New York is poised to take a major step against the federal immigration crackdown by barring local jails from renting out space to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to multiple sources familiar with ongoing state budget negotiations, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic legislative leaders are close to finalizing an immigration reform package that would prohibit this practice statewide.

This prohibition marks a significant escalation in New York’s resistance to aggressive ICE enforcement tactics, especially those ramped up during the Trump administration’s second term. Hochul has publicly condemned ICE raids that target workers who "are not the worst of the worst," signaling a commitment to protecting immigrant communities from what she calls “out-of-control” federal agents.

The legislation would also ban 287(g) agreements, which deputize local law enforcement to perform immigration duties, and introduce restrictions on when immigration agents can wear masks while on duty—moves aimed at increasing transparency and limiting federal encroachment on local policing.

Despite broad Democratic support, the proposed measures have ignited fierce opposition from sheriffs across the state. A coalition of about three dozen sheriffs descended on the Capitol to defend their authority and the financial benefits of ICE contracts. Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar, a Republican and former state senator, emphasized that renting jail space to ICE provides critical funding for local operations and warned that these restrictions would undermine public safety.

This clash highlights a deeper political and practical divide. While counties like Broome, Nassau, and Orange have held hundreds to thousands of ICE detainees in recent months, some sheriffs are already scaling back cooperation amid staffing challenges and shifting political winds. Clinton County’s sheriff recently allowed his contract with ICE to expire, and Niagara County now limits detentions to cases involving criminal warrants.

Democratic lawmakers argue that local police should focus on fighting crime rather than assisting federal immigration enforcement, which they say erodes community trust and violates detainees’ rights. State Sen. Patricia Fahy called for an end to using county jails as “holding venues for those who have been given no rights.”

The debate also intersects with broader calls for sanctuary policies across New York. Activists push for the New York for All Act, which would further restrict police cooperation with ICE unless compelled by court order. State Sen. Zellnor Myrie framed the current proposals as a baseline, leaving room for localities like New York City to maintain even stronger protections.

As the state inches toward a final agreement, the battle over ICE’s footprint in New York’s criminal justice system underscores the ongoing struggle between federal immigration enforcement and local efforts to safeguard immigrant communities. With sheriffs warning of lost revenue and Democrats promising increased protections, the outcome will shape the state’s approach to immigration for years to come.