A statewide ban went into effect this week that prohibits local law enforcement agencies from working with federal ICE agents. The issue has come to a head locally both on Syracuse streets and in the courts.
An incident on Westcott street August 20th involved ICE agents confronting and detaining two people. Syracuse police were also on the scene, responding to a call of an accident at the same location. The officers did not assist the federal agents. They were following the position of the city and the police department.
“We have a long standing policy in that we don’t conduct immigration enforcement. That position hasn’t changed form Mayor Walsh to Mayor-elect Owens,” said Police Chief mark Rusin just as he was taking over the post.
Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley has also stated his department would not collaborate with ICE.
That posture is now the law of the land, after Governor Kathy Hochul signed a the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, banning so called 287-g agreements between local police and federal agencies.
“We don’t need any 287-g agreements in fact I think there in the way of making progress (on reducing crime) because I want local police using local taxpayers dollars, catching local criminals,” said Hochul.
New York Immigration Coalition President Murad Awawdeh noted ICE’s history of violence against suspected illegal immigrants works against public safety.
“So why would we want to have our local law enforcement agencies working with an agency that is creating harm in our communities?” said Awawdeh. He said communities are safer when there is mor faith in local police and Sheriff’s departments. “So, if someone is a victim of a crime or witnessed a crime, you want those people to go to the police and you want them to seek justice. And if people don't do that and don't feel safe enough to do it, we are all the worst off for it.”
He added ICE raids in a food processing plant in Central New York, and on farms in Western New York and the North Country hurt local economies without increasing public safety.
Not everyone agrees … at least 15 county sheriffs, including those from Madison, Oswego and Cayuga counties filed a lawsuit to block the ban August 26th.
