Staff Report / July 27, 2026
STEUBEN COUNTY — Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard is among a dozen local law enforcement leaders across New York State who have been formally directed to terminate their department’s operational agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The mandates were issued by the state Attorney General’s newly established Office of Immigrant Trust. The letters target agencies currently holding active contracts under Section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act—a provision that permits designated local law enforcement personnel to carry out select functions normally reserved for federal civil immigration officers.
The state directive aligns with New York’s recently enacted “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act,” which took effect earlier this summer and strictly bans local government entities from entering into or maintaining formal 287(g) partnerships.
Key takeaways and deadlines outlined in the state order include:
- Termination Deadlines: Recipient agencies must submit a formal response by August 14 detailing the steps being taken to dissolve their contracts, with all 287(g) agreements becoming void and legally unenforceable by August 25.
- Expanded Restrictions: Beyond halting delegated field enforcement, state law now prohibits local correctional, juvenile, and youth facilities from being utilized to house federal civil immigration detainees.
- Agencies Contacted: Alongside the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, letters were sent to sheriff’s offices in Madison, Niagara, Nassau, Cattaraugus, Broome, Rensselaer, and Otsego counties, as well as police departments in Nassau County, Mohawk Village, Camden, and Allegany Village.
- Enforcement Oversight: The Office of Immigrant Trust is empowered to investigate complaints, issue subpoenas, and pursue civil legal action against non-compliant entities. Members of the public can report suspected violations directly to the Attorney General’s Office hotline.
