Did you know?

Did you know? Executive Order No. 170, codified as 9 NYCRR § 8.170, is still on the books. It remains a core component of New York State’s official policy and prohibits officers from inquiring about immigration status unless necessary for a criminal investigation into that individual’s non-immigration criminal activity. It also includes state agencies like the DMV, DSS, and other offices that sheriffs might interact with from even asking about immigration status unless required by law or necessary to determine eligibility for a specific program, let alone to hand over to the feds.
Turns out our legislators, our county sheriff, and the mayor of Oswego are all more than willing to lick the boot if it means they can still get those nods in the street from your local racist.
Thankfully our Governor has more sense than our sheriff, legislators, and many other local law enforcement and public service agencies that think our tax dollars should be wasted helping the federal government, instead of saving them by letting the feds waste their own money – after all, the only reason Oswego and other red counties, let alone red states, can exist and support their impoverished populations is because of the tax dollars from the blue parts (and the exploitation of desperate, impoverished people nationwide, of course).
Our Governor is introducing a bill that would prohibit counties from entering 287(g) agreements, which state law enforcement agencies can voluntarily join with the state to assist the federal government with ICE. The Broome County Sheriff’s Office signed one of these agreements last March, allowing officers to serve warrants on behalf of ICE to county jail detainees. If you’re wondering if Oswego’s sheriff does, rest assured that they don’t – but that doesn’t mean they won’t go above and beyond the law anyways!
Our new democrats in office in the city of Oswego can still do the right thing and pass common sense prohibitions on colluding with ICE. Our city police departments can make a statement that they will not collude with ICE or break NYS law as the sheriff has. Maybe then our poor overworked district attorney could lessen his workload so that they can actually prosecute the cases they have in a speedy manner.
If the only way you can understand this situation is from a conservative “business-minded” perspective, then ask yourself how it makes sense that your taxes are being spent on arresting productive workers, people that shop at your stores, pay property taxes, rent, mortgages, and for schools? Do you think the county gets richer or poorer when there are fewer workers, taxpayers, and customers?
At the very least when our sheriff gets hit with a lawsuit for riding around with ICE and Border Patrol holding their leash, pulling people over for “traffic violations” (driving while brown), and illegally asking about their immigration status, maybe only the racists and republicans should pay the bill.

Read on if you want to hear what actual real law enforcement sounds like:

Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said, “Effective policing depends on community trust. These proposals protect the relationships local law enforcement relies on to keep our neighbors safe, regardless of immigration status. I commend Governor Hochul for her leadership at this critical moment.”
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. said, “Strong communities are built on trust between residents and the officers who serve them. Right now, that trust is under stress and strain, and these measures help preserve it so we can continue keeping all New Yorkers safe. I thank Governor Hochul for her partnership with law enforcement on these urgent issues.”
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said, “Public trust isn’t separate from public safety — it’s essential to it. When any member of our community is afraid to call the police, we all become less safe. Governor Hochul understands that, and her leadership on these proposals will help keep New York communities safe.”
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said, “I was elected to keep my county safe. When families in my community are afraid to report a crime because of their immigration status, race, or ethnicity, we have failed them. No one should be living in the shadows, afraid to call the police when they need help. Our jails, our deputies, and our resources need to stay focused on the serious criminals who threaten our communities. Governor Hochul’s proposals give state and local law enforcement across this state the clarity and backing we need to do our jobs the right way. I’m grateful for her leadership at this critical moment.”
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said, “Professional policing must be the rule, not the exception. That means officers who de-escalate, who respect rights, and who understand that their authority comes with responsibility. Governor Hochul’s proposals are about ensuring every community in New York can trust that law enforcement, at every level, operates with professionalism, accountability, and respect. That is the standard we hold ourselves to every day and that must be the standard for everyone who wears a badge in our Great State.”
Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant, “Witnesses and victims should not fear that when they call for aid they will face persecution. I thank the Governor for sending a strong message that law enforcement is here to help you, not persecute you based on the color of your skin.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, “Prosecutors can’t do our jobs if victims and witnesses – our neighbors – are fearful of coming forward. We need to build community trust to keep everyone safe, and using local law enforcement to do federal civil immigration enforcement erodes our ability to do so. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to protecting all New Yorkers.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “Violence in Brooklyn is at a record low because we earned community trust and protect due process. When victims and witnesses fear that reporting a crime could lead to deportation, or that federal agents can enter a home, school, house of worship or hospital without a judge’s warrant, people stop coming forward, crimes go unsolved and dangerous offenders evade accountability. Governor Hochul is right to ban 287(g) agreements and to require a judicial warrant before ICE enters sensitive locations. This keeps local law enforcement focused on serious crime, strengthens public safety, and helps ensure New Yorkers can seek justice without fear.”
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “I believe strongly in accountability for criminal conduct. Local law enforcement officers must prioritize upholding local laws while building trust with the communities they serve. That trust is essential to public safety. We continue to work closely with our federal partners in criminal investigations and in pursuit of defendants accused of breaking New York State laws. At the same time, our local law enforcement partners must remain at the forefront of day-to-day enforcement operations. The success of our work is contingent upon the trust and engagement of the local community.”
Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said, “As prosecutors, it is essential that victims and witnesses feel safe coming forward, cooperating with law enforcement, and participating in the justice process. Section 287(g) undermines that safety by blurring the line between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement—particularly for New York’s immigrant communities—and I fully support the Governor’s decision to ban these agreements. When victims worry that reporting a crime could expose them or their loved ones to immigration consequences, crimes go unreported, offenders remain at large, and victims remain in danger. Over the past year, New York City has achieved historic reductions in violent crime, including on Staten Island, where 2025 saw the fewest murders in our borough’s history. My office will continue to prosecute dangerous individuals who commit serious crimes, regardless of immigration status, and work with federal authorities when appropriate to hold violent offenders accountable, but Section 287(g) does not make victims safer. It discourages reporting, weakens prosecutions, and ultimately undermines public safety.”
Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon said, “Our jobs as District Attorneys are to serve and protect the public and to promote justice. We work alongside a diverse group of law-enforcement partners who have a deep reservoir of trust with the community. And I will always stand firm against anyone who would abuse that trust.”
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said, “A same-sex couple in Upstate New York who fled persecution, followed every legal requirement, and were granted protection are now facing deportation to a country they have zero connection to. That is not what the American people signed up for. No one voted to deport hard-working people who came here for the most fundamental reason imaginable — to live and love openly without fear. I stand with Governor Hochul and support her proposals that back the constitutional rights afforded to everyone in New York State. This cruelty must end.”

– Wat Tyler

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