A proposal moving through the state legislature would prohibit counties and local governments from entering into or renewing contracts with federal authorities to detain individuals for immigration enforcement purposes, setting up a broader debate over local control, fiscal impact, and the state’s role in federal policy.
The proposal would require counties to terminate any existing immigration detention contracts and permanently bar future agreements. Supporters argue the measure would end local participation in federal immigration detention, while opponents warn it could create financial and operational strain for counties that rely on such contracts to help fund correctional facilities.
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, a member of the Corrections Committee, voted against the bill. “We need serious, practical discussions about detention policy, not sweeping mandates,” he said. “This bill removes local control and could create real financial and operational challenges for the counties.”
Counties that house federal immigration detainees often receive compensation that offsets staffing and facility costs. Critics of the legislation argue that eliminating those agreements without replacement funding could shift additional expenses onto local taxpayers.
DeStefano also raised concerns about state involvement in what he described as a federal responsibility. “Immigration enforcement is a federal issue,” he said. “New York should not impose blanket prohibitions that create uncertainty for local governments.”
The legislation touches on broader questions about how local correctional facilities interact with federal immigration authorities and whether counties should have discretion to participate in detention agreements.
“Humane treatment and accountability are essential,” DeStefano added. “But we can address concerns through oversight and reform, not by passing legislation that ties the hands of local communities.”
If approved by both chambers and signed into law, the bill would mark a significant shift in how New York counties engage with federal immigration detention operations.