A move to restrict ICE in New York is advancing even as Trump’s border czar issues sharp warnings

New York pushes ahead despite warnings

New York officials continued advancing immigration restrictions after White House border czar Tom Homan warned federal authorities would increase ICE manpower in the state if proposals moved forward.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said threats would not shape New York policy, and she said the measures would still preserve cooperation with federal authorities in criminal cases across communities.

The fight centers on local cooperation

The budget agreement included proposals barring state and local law enforcement from entering formal agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or acting as civil immigration agents.

Hochul said local police should stay focused on criminal investigations and emergency response, rather than taking on federal civil immigration work through state or county cooperation deals.

Sensitive locations draw special protection

Another proposal would deny ICE access to schools, hospitals, homes, and other sensitive locations unless agents first obtain a judicial warrant, according to state and Reuters reporting.

The Governor’s office said the protection also covers nonpublic areas of shelters, libraries, parks, dorms, community centers, childcare facilities, and other state-owned spaces across New York.

Hochul answers Homan directly

Hochul responded directly to Homan’s warning, saying she does not respond well to threats and that New York would pass measures leaders believe protect residents across the state.

Her remarks came after Homan said New York could face a larger federal presence if state officials put new roadblocks in front of immigration enforcement efforts there.

Budget talks give the plan momentum

Hochul said she reached a deal with legislative leaders to place the immigration measures inside New York’s FY 2027 budget agreement during ongoing budget talks in Albany.

At that point, the provisions were part of a budget agreement and were advancing through a Legislature controlled by Democrats, rather than having been enacted into law yet.

Mask rules become part of the package

The package also includes a proposal barring federal, state, and local officers from using face coverings to conceal their identities while interacting with the public in New York.

State officials said the rule would still allow tactical gear, sunglasses, and medical masks, making the measure narrower than a blanket ban on face coverings for officers.

Fun fact: ICE was created in 2003 by combining parts of the former U.S. Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service agencies.

The plan includes a lawsuit path

The immigration package also includes a state law path for New Yorkers to sue federal, state, and local officials over alleged constitutional violations in court under state law.

That description is broader than saying only ICE officers could be sued, because the Governor’s office framed the measure as covering several levels of government in New York.

Little-known fact: Donald Trump withdrew Ron Vitiello’s ICE nomination in 2019 because he said he wanted a tougher direction for immigration enforcement.

Hochul separates crime from immigration status

Hochul said the state would still help federal officials go after hardened criminals, violent offenders, and the worst cases that threaten public safety across New York communities.

She said the proposals do not restrict cooperation in criminal situations, arguing instead that federal immigration enforcement has gone too far in cases outside criminal investigations in New York.

Homan promises more federal manpower

Homan told Fox News that federal immigration authorities would increase manpower if New York moved forward with proposals limiting cooperation with ICE on civil enforcement activities there.

He said federal agents would keep doing the job despite roadblocks, underscoring the conflict between New York officials and the Trump administration over immigration policy in practice.

A private meeting adds another layer

Hochul said she met privately with Homan at the New York state Capitol earlier this year, before their latest public clash over immigration enforcement plans in Albany.

According to Hochul, Homan told her that the era of the surges was over, a statement she later recalled to reporters in Albany during the dispute.

Blakeman defends Nassau County’s ICE deal

Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive and a Republican candidate for governor, criticized Hochul’s proposals and defended his county’s existing agreement with ICE during the state budget fight.

He said the partnership had helped remove bad people from the community and had produced orderly immigration enforcement efforts in Nassau County under that local cooperation agreement.

Trump administration’s policies widen the dispute

The dispute became part of a broader clash as Democrats tried to place guardrails around the Trump administration’s immigration agenda after chaotic deportation efforts in recent months.

At the center was whether New York should limit civil immigration cooperation while still assisting authorities in criminal cases, a line Hochul emphasized publicly through repeated comments.

Want to read more about the latest news? Check out how Philadelphia councilmembers signaled that the fight over 17 approved school closures was far from over.

The package stays at Albany’s center

New York leaders were still advancing the measures despite Homan’s threats, keeping the package at the center of Albany politics as lawmakers continued debating immigration enforcement.

The debate centered on limits for civil immigration enforcement, protections for sensitive places, officer masking rules, and legal claims against government officials under proposed state law.

Want to stay ahead of the news? Check out how Charlotte could see a double tax increase on July 1, as the proposed budget adds pressure on local households.

What stands out more in New York, the push to restrict ICE operations, or the growing clash over state authority and immigration enforcement? Share your thoughts.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

Read More From This Brand:

• Attorneys say new FBI background checks could mean more waiting for immigrants already facing delays
• Legal battle grows as civil rights groups sue Texas over law allowing police to detain migrants
• Momentum builds in New York City as leaders consider the rent freeze promised by Zohran Mamdani