NY Leaders Warn Counties to End ICE Civil Immigration Detention Agreements by 2026 Deadline
New York state leaders have issued a strict warning to county executives and sheriffs, setting a firm Nov. 25, 2026 deadline to terminate all local jail agreements with federal immigration authorities under the newly enacted Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.
The directive impacts 14 sheriff offices across the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James announced that the Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Immigrant Trust sent formal letters outlining the legal mandates of the legislation, which was signed into law on May 27, 2026.
State officials maintain that local correctional facilities must clear out civil immigration detainees to refocus public resources strictly on local criminal matters. “When I signed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act into law, I made it clear that our local law enforcement should be focused on protecting New Yorkers and keeping dangerous criminals off our streets, not helping ICE carry out their aggressive deportation agenda,” Hochul said in a statement.
Attorney General James echoed that stance, emphasizing that local infrastructure should remain distinct from federal enforcement priorities. “Local officials should not be doing the work of federal immigration authorities,” James said. “New York passed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act because taxpayer resources should be dedicated solely to keeping our communities safe.”
Legal Rejection and Court Challenges Surrounding the ICE Jail Ban
The state’s warning arrived just two days after a federal judge rejected a request from local sheriffs seeking to block enforcement of the statute. U.S. District Court Judge Mae D’Agostino ruled that the sheriffs failed to establish the proper legal standing to challenge state laws under local government restrictions.
Sheriffs originally filed the lawsuit in August, arguing that the legislative ban on 287(g) partnerships represents an illegal overreach that interferes with contractual agreements between counties and the federal government. Legal representation for the sheriffs is expected to appeal the decision, keeping the courtroom battle active even as the winding-down period ticks away.
Meanwhile, the broader legal friction over New York’s immigration statutes continues to play out in federal courts. The U.S. Department of Justice previously filed a separate lawsuit against the state over provisions in the legislative package, which also restricts ICE agents from wearing masks and limits federal agency access to sensitive locations like schools, churches, and courthouses. While a federal judge temporarily blocked the mask restrictions pending further litigation, James filed a countersuit to defend the state’s authority.
Agencies Must Terminate Federal Detention Contracts by November
The statute provides clear boundaries for what local facilities can and cannot do as the November deadline approaches. Agencies must utilize existing contract termination clauses to unwind any agreements allowing federal civil immigration detention by Nov. 25, 2026, exactly three months after the law took effect.
Any contract provisions permitting civil detention automatically become void and unenforceable under state law once the deadline passes. However, the legislation does not prohibit local agencies from contracting with the federal government to house individuals facing pending federal criminal charges, provided the agreement excludes civil immigration violations entirely. Local facilities retain their obligations to comply with direct state or federal court orders and judicial warrants.
County executives and sheriffs must now notify the Office of Immigrant Trust detailing their compliance steps or confirming they hold no active, prohibited agreements. State residents who suspect violations of these civil immigration rules can file complaints online using the attorney general’s designated portal. Anyone who witnesses federal enforcement actions across the state can also report incidents through the office’s federal action reporting form.