---
title: "New York's ICE cooperation ban faces legal challenges and federal funding questions"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/new-yorks-ice-cooperation-ban-faces-legal-challenges-and-federal-funding-questio"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/new-yorks-ice-cooperation-ban-faces-legal-challenges-and-federal-funding-questio"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/new-yorks-ice-cooperation-ban-faces-legal-challenges-and-federal-funding-questio.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/new-yorks-ice-cooperation-ban-faces-legal-challenges-and-federal-funding-questio"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-08-27T15:05:23.497Z"
source_reported: "2026-08-27T11:30:00.000Z"
updated: "2026-08-27T15:05:23.497Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 59
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-08-27T15:01:08.588638+00:00"
---

# New York's ICE cooperation ban faces legal challenges and federal funding questions

*A new state law restricts local police from assisting federal immigration enforcement, but some counties are suing and a federal grant program may allow continued cooperation.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing for specific details of federal grants.
- Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. Reports on a lawsuit and a specific incident, but lacks direct quotes from all affected parties.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises legal action and 'war' on police, but the article details a ban and a lawsuit.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- New York's new law, the Local Cops Local Crimes Act, bans local police from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on civil immigration matters.
- Eleven counties have agreed to terminate their ICE cooperation agreements, but some, including Nassau, are facing legal challenges from the state Attorney General.
- Fifteen New York sheriffs have filed a lawsuit against Governor Kathy Hochul, challenging the state law.
- A federal grant program, Operation Stonegarden, is reportedly providing funding to some New York counties for border security assistance, which some state legislators view as a way to circumvent the new law.

New York's new law, the Local Cops Local Crimes Act, took effect on Tuesday, prohibiting local police agencies from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on civil immigration enforcement. Governor Kathy Hochul stated that local police would only assist ICE if a real crime had been committed, and that federal agents would be on their own for civil immigration matters. Eleven counties agreed to end their cooperation agreements by the deadline, but others, such as Rensselaer and Nassau, were considering their legal options.

The implementation of the law has faced opposition. The New York Attorney General has issued subpoenas to counties, including Nassau, for allegedly failing to terminate their ICE cooperation agreements. Furthermore, fifteen sheriffs from across the state have filed a lawsuit challenging the new law. Some state legislators have raised concerns that a federal grant program, Operation Stonegarden, which funds local law enforcement for border security assistance, could be used to circumvent the state's ban on cooperation.

## Disagreement on federal grant program's impact

IBTimes UK reported that state senators warn a loophole in federal funding, through Operation Stonegarden, is undermining the state's ban on local police cooperation with ICE. They argue this program pays some forces to continue civil immigration enforcement through a different channel. The report cited an instance where a Jefferson County sheriff's deputy stopped a driver for a traffic violation and then summoned a Border Patrol agent, with the federal government paying the county for that shift. In contrast, Governor Hochul recently highlighted a £2.25 million ($2.7 million) Operation Stonegarden award as a counterterrorism measure, according to IBTimes UK.

## What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests mention the specific details of the Operation Stonegarden federal grant program or the instance of a deputy stopping a driver for a traffic violation and summoning a Border Patrol agent, as reported by IBTimes UK.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 27 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 11% (3)
- Centre: 41% (11)
- Right: 48% (13)

8 of 35 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-27T15:01:08.588638+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-27T15:30:28.229Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- The left-rated report from IBTimes UK led on concerns that a federal grant program, Operation Stonegarden, creates a loophole that undermines New York's ban on local police cooperating with ICE. It detailed how this program reportedly funds some forces to continue civil immigration enforcement and provided a specific example of a traffic stop leading to an immigrant's detention. The report quoted state senators warning about the continued impact on immigrants and highlighted the discrepancy between state efforts to enforce the ban and federal grants that may facilitate continued cooperation.

### Centre

- The centre-rated reports from Radio France Internationale, WIVT - NewsChannel 34, and Newsweek focused on the new law itself and the immediate reactions to it. Radio France Internationale noted the law prohibits local police from cooperating with ICE except in cases of proven crime and mentioned increased migrant arrests since Donald Trump's return to the White House. WIVT - NewsChannel 34 reported that the Broome County Sheriff's Office indicated its compliance with the state law. Newsweek highlighted that the law bans police and sheriff's departments from working with ICE, facing pushback from areas that voted for Donald Trump in 2024.

### Right

- The right-rated reports from The Western Journal, The American Tribune, El Universo, and Louder With Crowder led on the legal challenges to the new law and framed it negatively. The Western Journal reported that fifteen New York sheriffs are suing Governor Kathy Hochul over the law. The American Tribune used the headline 'Woke Governor Hochul Announces New Law Banning NY Police From Working With ICE' and quoted the governor stating, 'We will not sit idly by when ICE commits atrocities on our streets.' El Universo stated New York prohibited local police from cooperating with ICE in civil migration cases so agents are not used by the 'Donald Trump government to achieve their quotas' of deportations. Louder With Crowder's headline suggested Governor Hochul cares more about illegal immigrants than Americans, and the digest mentioned her claims of ICE committing 'atrocities on our streets'.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- low: 1
- mixed: 5
- high: 13
- unknown: 8
- veryHigh: 8

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [The Western Journal](https://westernjournal.com/fifteen-ny-sheriffs-sue-kathy-hochul-new-anti-ice-law) — Fifteen NY Sheriffs Sue Kathy Hochul Over New Anti-ICE Law
- [The American Tribune](https://theamericantribune.com/watch-woke-governor-hochul-announces-new-law-banning-ny-police-from-working-with-ice) — Woke Governor Hochul Announces New Law Banning NY Police From Working With ICE - The American Tribune.com
- [NNY360](https://nny360.com/news/nny-sheriffs-join-lawsuit-challenging-hochul-s-ban-on-cooperating-with-ice/article_f4ef525e-12bd-5418-8bb7-f95fd0d10fc8.html) — NNY sheriffs join lawsuit challenging Hochul’s ban on cooperating with ICE
- [The Nerd Stash](https://thenerdstash.com/she-should-be-arrested-backlash-erupts-as-new-york-gov-kathy-hochul-threatens-legal-action-against-local-cops-who-aid-ice) — ‘She Should Be Arrested’: Backlash Erupts as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Threatens Legal Action Against Local Cops Who Aid ICE
- [Radio France Internationale](https://rfi.fr/fr/am%C3%A9riques/20260826-%C3%A9tats-unis-la-police-de-l-%C3%A9tat-de-new-york-d%C3%A9sormais-interdite-de-collaborer-avec-l-ice) — United States: In New York State, a New Law Prohibits Local Police From Collaborating with ICE
- [Real Clear Politics](https://realclearpolitics.com/2026/08/26/hochuls_ban_on_cops_working_with_ice_an_attack_on_public_safety_709061.html) — Hochul's Ban on Cops Working With ICE an Attack on Public Safety
- [libero.pe](https://libero.pe/estados-unidos/2026/08/26/gran-noticia-inmigrantes-legales-indocumentados-en-estados-unidos-estado-epicentro-de-inmigracion-prohibe-policia-local-colaborar-ice-en-casos-migratorios-civiles-ee-uu-usa-lbeu-2196298) — GREAT NEWS, U.S. Immigrants: This State, Epicenter of Immigration, PROHIBIUM TO THE Local POLICE Collaborate with ICE in Civil Migration Cases
- [大纪元 Epoch Times](https://epochtimes.com/b5/26/8/26/n14836807.htm) — New Law Restricting Cooperation Between Local Police and ICE Takes Effect in New York.
- [El Universo](https://eluniverso.com/noticias/internacional/nueva-york-prohibe-que-la-policia-local-coopere-con-ice-en-casos-migratorios-civiles-nota) — New York Prohibits Local Police From Cooperating with ICE in Civil Migration Cases
- [IBTimes UK](https://ibtimes.co.uk/new-york-ice-ban-federal-loopholes-1816264) — State Senators Warn New York's Celebrated ICE Ban Has a Loophole Still Costing Immigrants Their Freedom
- [Louder With Crowder](https://louderwithcrowder.com/hochul-ice-law) — New York Governor announces new law proving she cares more about illegal immigrants than any NYer born in America
- [Remolacha - Noticias Republica Dominicana](https://remolacha.net/2026/08/nueva-york-prohibe-a-la-policia-local-colaborar-con-ice-en-tareas-migratorias) — NY Bans Local Police From Collaborating with ICE on Migration Tasks
- [WIVT - NewsChannel 34](https://binghamtonhomepage.com/news/top-stories/bc-sheriffs-office-to-comply-with-hochuls-ice-cooperation-ban) — BC Sheriff to comply with Hochul's ICE cooperation ban
- [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/gop-leaning-counties-police-banned-ice-agreements-new-york-12364875) — Pro-Trump counties banned from working with ICE
- [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/4699800/kathy-hochul-bill-ban-local-police-ice-take-effect) — Kathy Hochul's bill banning local police from working with ICE takes effect
- [World](https://wng.org/sift/new-york-ice-ban-1787677313) — New York law banning local police from helping ICE goes into effect
- [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/immigration/2026/08/25/new-york-counties-sue-governor-to-protect-cooperation-with-ice) — New York Counties Sue Governor to Protect Cooperation with ICE
- [WBNG](https://wbng.com/2026/08/25/local-cops-local-crimes-act-officially-goes-into-effect-across-new-york) — Local Cops, Local Crimes Act officially goes into effect across New York
- [WCAX-TV](https://wcax.com/2026/08/25/new-york-law-limiting-local-police-cooperation-with-ice-takes-effect) — New York law limiting local police cooperation with ICE takes effect
- [EFE](https://efe.com/mundo/2026-08-25/policia-nueva-york-cooperacion-ice) — New York Vetoes Cooperation Between Local Police and ICE in Civil Migration Cases
- [la Nacion](https://lanacion.com.ar/estados-unidos/nueva-york/es-oficial-gobernadora-hochul-activo-la-prohibicion-a-la-policia-de-nueva-york-de-cooperar-con-el-nid25082026) — Official: Governor Hochul Activated the Ban on NYPD to Cooperate with ICE
- [KSNV](https://news3lv.com/news/nation-world/ice-touts-new-arrests-as-new-york-law-ends-local-police-cooperation-with-agency-kathy-hochul) — ICE touts new arrests as New York law ends local police cooperation with agency
- [WSYX](https://abc6onyourside.com/news/nation-world/ice-touts-new-arrests-as-new-york-law-ends-local-police-cooperation-with-agency-kathy-hochul) — ICE touts new arrests as New York law ends local police cooperation with agency
- [Just the News](https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/hochul-vows-enforce-anti-ice-rules-local-law-enforcement) — NY Gov Hochul pledges to enforce anti-ICE rules for local law enforcement
- [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/08/25/bring-it-on-hochul-responds-as-rensselaer-county-and-others-plan-to-sue-over-statewide-ice-ban) — ‘Bring it on’: Hochul responds as Rensselaer County and others plan to sue over statewide ICE ban
- [CBS News](https://cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ice-cooperation-law-enforcement-new-york) — New York law bans local police agencies from cooperating with ICE
- [CNN Brasil](https://cnnbrasil.com.br/internacional/governadora-de-nova-york-proibe-policia-de-ajudar-ice-em-imigracao) — Governor of New York Forbids Local Police to Help ICE
- [WRGB](https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/governor-hochul-announces-law-to-ban-287g-agreements-ice-overreach) — Governor Hochul announces law to ban 287(g) agreements, ICE overreach
- [Utica Phoenix](https://uticaphoenix.net/new-york-287g-ban-local-cops-local-crimes) — Impact of New York 287(g) Ban on Local Policing
- [Telemundo New York (47)](https://telemundo47.com/noticias/local/ley-nueva-york-prohibe-colaboracion-policia-local-ice/2650910) — Act Prohibiting Local Police Collaboration with ICE Enters Into Force in New York
- [WNYW](https://fox5ny.com/news/new-york-bans-police-cooperation-with-ice-287-g) — New York's law banning police cooperation with ICE takes effect
- [abc 7 NY](https://abc7ny.com/post/new-york-law-bans-local-police-cooperation-ice-nassau-county-weighs-options/19732322) — New York law curbing local police cooperation with ICE takes effect today
- [wamc.org](https://wamc.org/news/2026-08-24/rensselaer-county-new-york-state-ice-agreement-lawsuit) — Rensselaer County plans to sue NY to keep 287(g) agreement with ICE
- [Gothamist](https://gothamist.com/news/the-new-york-county-leaders-vowing-to-fight-law-limiting-police-cooperation-with-ice) — The New York county leaders vowing to fight law limiting police cooperation with ICE
- [wshu.org](https://wshu.org/2026-08-24/the-new-york-leader-vowing-to-fight-law-limiting-police-cooperation-with-ice) — The New York leader vowing to fight law limiting police cooperation with ICE

## Questions

**What does New York's new law prohibit?**

New York's new law, the Local Cops Local Crimes Act, prohibits local police agencies from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on civil immigration enforcement. Cooperation is permitted only in cases where a real crime has been committed.

**Who is challenging the new law?**

Fifteen sheriffs from across New York have filed a lawsuit against Governor Kathy Hochul to challenge the state law. Additionally, the New York Attorney General has issued subpoenas to some counties, including Nassau, for allegedly failing to terminate their ICE cooperation agreements.

**Is there a federal program that might allow continued cooperation?**

Yes, the federal grant program Operation Stonegarden reportedly provides funding to some New York counties for border security assistance. Some state legislators view this program as a potential way to circumvent the state's ban on local police cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/new-yorks-ice-cooperation-ban-faces-legal-challenges-and-federal-funding-questio. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "New York's ICE cooperation ban faces legal challenges and federal funding questions", https://mediabias.news/politics/new-yorks-ice-cooperation-ban-faces-legal-challenges-and-federal-funding-questio