New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) is putting sanctuary priorities ahead of public safety, this time by dangling technology upgrade grants in front of local police agencies—but only if they agree to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Hochul, speaking in Long Island earlier in the week, explained that $75 million of a total $100 million in grants would be tied directly to compliance with the state’s “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act."
The act, passed by the state legislature in May, effectively pressures sheriffs and departments to keep their hands off helping ICE with raids and detentions by ending 287(g) agreements, which are voluntary partnerships between local law enforcement and federal agents.
In other words, Hochul is using taxpayer dollars to bribe law enforcement into shielding criminal illegals at a time when Americans are demanding real border and law enforcement.
“If you’ve not been a beneficiary before, please step up. You cannot imagine the difference that it will make in your community,” Hochul said. “I’m committed to keeping this state as safe as possible, and we’re going to continue our support for local law enforcement because they are literally on the front lines of protecting their communities.”
Kathy Hochul has announced that $75 million will be made available to law enforcement outside NYC for technology upgrades, so long as they are in compliance with a recently passed law that restricts cooperation with ICE: https://t.co/CxghEYBVXj
— Alexander MacDougall (@alasdair_macdh) July 7, 2026
The Times Union reports that the grant application form, issued by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, outlines the eligibility rules.
“No application will be considered should the applicant be determined to be operating a 287(g) agreement, or similar agreements, with the federal government, which would support state and local resources being used for civil immigration enforcement purposes,” an attestation form, which must be signed by a signatory with the law enforcement agency, reads.
“Further, no data or information generated by technology or equipment procured with these funds shall be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes.”
Hochul said the quiet part out loud: she stands with criminal illegal aliens over NYers.
— Rep. Claudia Tenney (@RepTenney) January 30, 2026
She used the podium to attack federal law enforcement and block cooperation with them.
Public safety was already in bad shape. Banning 287(g) right now will only intensify the crisis. https://t.co/LoDq64yKFw
Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24) has called the banning of local law enforcement from partnering with ICE a "reckless policy."
"This restriction ... is reckless, endangers New Yorkers, and further entrenches New York's status as a sanctuary state that prioritizes illegal immigrants over the safety of law-abiding citizens and the officers who protect them," Tenney wrote in a letter to Hochul in May.
But then, the Democrat governor's priority is, and always has been, illegal aliens over law-abiding citizens.
Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, an upstate Republican, has vowed not to comply with Hochul's efforts to ban cooperation with ICE.
"Let me absolutely guarantee this low IQ and dangerous [Governor Hochul] that [Rensselaer County] will once again ignore your stupidity just as we did with (former Governor Andrew) Cuomo constantly. While you endanger New Yorkers, I will protect my residents," he said in an X post. "We WILL continue to work with ICE, and we will continue to participate in the 287g program to protect our people."
McLaughlin tells RedState that the governor's scheme is tantamount to "holding them (law enforcement) hostage."
Hochul is weaponizing taxpayer money to buy off local law enforcement and turn them into active participants in New York’s sanctuary state machine. All as a means to allow criminal illegals to roam free while American citizens in the Empire State bear the cost.
You'd think voters would get tired of being sacrificed at the altar of liberal open-border ideology.
Editor’s Note: We voted for mass deportations, not mass amnesty. Help us continue to fight back against those trying to go against the will of the American people.
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