Editorial | Freezing ICE in New York, until feds comply with the law amNewYork

"An ICE agent grabs a man by the back of his neck. Photo by Dean Moses ICE agents have been acting with impunity for months now roughly arresting individuals, separating families, assaulting protesters, and causing chaos in the halls of 26 Federal Plaza, on the streets of Minneapolis, and elsewhere across America. ICE is supposed to be an agency responsible for rounding up undocumented criminals and getting them out of the United States. Such a mission requires a certain level of cooperation from local and state governments but how can local and state governments be required to cooperate with a rogue agency that itself ignores the law?"

"Moreover, how can the unmasked men and women of the NYPD, who put their lives on the line every day to keep us all safe, build and retain the trust of New Yorkers if they assist masked ICE agents rampaging through the Big Apple? These are the things to consider with regard to Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, unveiled on Friday."

"The bill, if approved by the state Legislature, would end local and state agreements that permit ICE to deputize local and state officers to assist in immigration enforcement. Hochul sees the bill as necessary to stop an agency that has abused its power at the direction of the Trump administration. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who also supports the proposed bill, made clear another key reason why the NYPD should not be compelled to cooperate with ICE at this time. When federal immigration operations come into a city and generate fear, anger, unrest, local police do not get to walk away from the consequences, Tisch said. That makes the job harder, and our communities less safe."

ICE agents have reportedly acted with impunity, conducting rough arrests, separating families, assaulting protesters, and creating chaos in federal buildings and city streets. The agency’s mission to remove undocumented criminals depends on cooperation from local and state governments, raising questions about obligating officials to work with an agency accused of ignoring the law. Concerns exist about local police losing public trust if they assist masked ICE agents, and about policing consequences when federal operations generate fear and unrest. The proposed Local Cops, Local Crimes Act would end deputization agreements; supporters call for passing the bill and restoring state controls, including a mask ban and authority to arrest agents who violate state law.

Read at www.amny.com