287(g) agreements banned across New York state. Local police can no longer be deputized as immigration agents.
What the Budget Does
New York’s $268.5 billion FY27 state budget, passed May 26, includes the strongest state-level immigration protections enacted anywhere this year.
- Bans 287(g) agreements. Local law enforcement cannot sign or maintain contracts with ICE that deputize local officers for immigration enforcement.
- Bars jails from renting space to ICE. Local jails cannot hold people on behalf of ICE or contract detention bed space to federal immigration agencies.
- Requires ICE agents to identify themselves. Federal agents cannot wear masks during enforcement operations in New York.
What It Does Not Do
Immigrant advocates pushed for the full New York for All Act, which would have gone further. The budget package stops short of:
- Prohibiting state agencies from sharing information with federal immigration authorities
- Creating a private right of action for individuals targeted by immigration enforcement violations
- Banning ICE from sensitive locations (schools, hospitals, courts)
Legislators say they will use the remaining two weeks of session to push for these additional protections.
Why This Matters
New York has 4.4 million immigrants, more than any state except California. The 287(g) ban prevents the federal government from using local police as a force multiplier for deportation operations. The jail space ban cuts off a key ICE detention pipeline.
This directly counters the administration’s strategy of threatening sanctuary cities with loss of federal services. New York is not backing down. It is codifying protections into law.
Read more on the Immigration hub and our New York state page.