MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County will adjust to a brand new anti-ICE sanctuary state legislation, Govt Bruce Blakeman mentioned Wednesday — whereas defiantly pledging to hitch a lawsuit pushing again on Albany’s mandate.
Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, made the announcement the day after the legislation signed by Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul went into impact, banning cooperation agreements between municipal governments and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This is among the saddest days of my life as county government,” mentioned Blakeman, who has proudly touted Nassau’s cope with the feds because the “most expansive” within the state.
Blakeman mentioned he’d “abide by the technicalities of the legislation,” but in addition insisted that the county would proceed to work with ICE, with out delving into extra particulars.
“We’ve got reviewed this legislation with the county attorneys, and we seemed for each attainable approach to not adjust to this legislation. Nevertheless, it was concluded that we must abide by the legislation,” he informed reporters.
“I’m a legislation and order county government. I imagine within the rule of legislation — even when it’s a nasty legislation, and it is a very, very dangerous and harmful legislation,” he mentioned.
Blakeman additionally mentioned he deliberate to have Nassau signal onto the federal swimsuit filed by the sheriffs of 15 different New York counties that argues the brand new legislation is unconstitutional and wrongly impedes native officers from making public security selections.
Rensselaer County Govt Steve McLaughlin and Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault, who’re main the swimsuit, signify the one remaining municipality that has but to adjust to the state’s order to finish its ICE settlement.
Hochul, whom Blakeman is working towards for governor in November, on Tuesday threatened to take authorized motion towards Nassau and different hold-out counties that had but to unwind their so-called 287g agreements.
“In case you attempt me once more, I say, ‘convey it on,’” Hochul informed reporters, as she stared down the authorized battle.
Hochul pushed to ban native governments’ ICE agreements after widespread outrage in the direction of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts earlier this yr.
The package deal of anti-ICE measures consists of much more restrictions stopping native cops from any “casual” collaboration with immigration authorities.
Blakeman warned the legislation would “result in mayhem, and violence and drug overdoses in our communities,” calling it “utterly misguided.”
“This legislation has made New York state extra harmful,” he railed.
“Going ahead, each homicide, each rape, each theft, each housebreaking, each drug overdose, dedicated by an unlawful migrant, is on the fingers of Kathy Hochul and the Democrats in our state legislature — it will likely be blood on their fingers,” he mentioned.
A spokesperson for state Lawyer Basic Letitia James, whose workplace is answerable for implementing the brand new immigration insurance policies, mentioned it had but to obtain Nassau’s termination discover Wednesday afternoon.
“Because the governor has mentioned from the beginning, counties don’t get to choose and select what legal guidelines they comply with,” Hochul spokesperson Alexia Nizhny informed The Put up.
“Compliance will be certain that we’re in a position to defend the rights of New Yorkers, hold native cops centered on native crimes, and make communities safer.”
