New York sheriffs 'mad as hell' as Hochul pushes to ban key law enforcement partnership

By Fox News · Fox News

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and sheriffs across New York are threatening legal action against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul over her push to ban local cooperation agreements with ICE, arguing the agreements lead to the safer removal of criminal illegal immigrants from the community. The backlash comes as Hochul pushes to include sweeping sanctuary policies in New York’s 2027 fiscal budget, including a ban on 287(g) agreements, limits on ICE access to schools, hospitals and churches, and restrictions on informal cooperation with ICE. But Blakeman, who is also the Republican nominee for governor, said he has been in discussions with sheriffs across the state about filing a lawsuit. "Kathy Hochul can make my day, because as far as I'm concerned, we're enforcing federal law in Nassau County, and a lot of the sheriffs throughout the state feel the same way," Blakeman told Fox News Digital. "They're mad as hell." ICE BUFFALO OFFICIAL TAKES SHOT AT NY GOV HOCHUL AFTER ARREST OF WANTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT One of the New York sheriffs opposed to the push to make New York a sanctuary state is Blakeman's running mate, Todd Hood. He is the sheriff of Madison County, which signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE last July. "I have sheriffs from all over the state contacting me, and they are all very upset about this," Hood told Fox News Digital. "Almost all of them disagree. There's very few sheriffs who are on board." A 287(g) agreement permits local and state law enforcement officials to carry out certain immigration enforcement responsibilities under the direction of federal immigration enforcement agents. There are 14 active 287(g) agreements with law enforcement agencies across nine New York counties. DHS DEMANDS LETITIA JAMES TAKE ACTION OVER NEW YORK'S REFUSAL TO HONOR ICE DETAINERS "The 287 (g) program is absolutely amazing," Hood told Fox News Digital. "It makes it so we don't have to go into people's houses." Hochul first introduced the measure to ban 287(g) agreem…