NY AG subpoenas Nassau County police, sheriff's department over failure to end ICE agreements
A spokesperson for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said "no comment" when asked for clarification on what the county plans to do.
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The New York Attorney General's Office issued subpoenas to both the Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County Sheriff's Department for their failure to comply with a new state law requiring the agencies to cut ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A spokesperson told News 12 that the Attorney General's Office of Immigrant Trust issued the legal orders to law enforcement agencies who either did not confirm their plans to unwind their agreements with ICE or whose responses were unsatisfactory.
That included both Nassau agencies, as well as the sheriffs' offices in Broome, Steuben and Rensselaer counties.
A spokesperson for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said "no comment" Tuesday afternoon after News 12 made multiple requests over the last several days seeking clarity on what the county planned to do.
Gov. Kathy Hochul held a press conference this afternoon to tout the law taking effect.
"No county executive should think that they're above the law in the state of New York," she said. "However, if they do thwart the laws that are duly enacted by this legislature and the governor, the attorney general will be responsible for enforcement."
Blakeman, who is running against Hochul for governor in November and who opposes the law, previously said the county was reviewing all its options.
The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act prohibits law enforcement agencies statewide from having agreements with ICE to assist with civil immigration matters. The law does not stop police or sheriffs' offices from helping on criminal investigations.
Nassau County's agreement with ICE deputized 10 detectives to enforce immigration law and rented out space in the county jail to the federal agency.
Supporters said the change will protect New York's immigrant community, strengthen public trust and limit the use of local resources on federal matters, while opponents said it will make communities less safe.
