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See the full story · 2 sourcesPOLITICS Blakeman ends Nassau County's ICE partnership amid new state law Wednesday, August 26, 2026 9:19PM Krista McNally has the latest. NASSAU COUNTY (WABC) -- Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced that the county will end its cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and comply with a new state law that bans such partnerships.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the measure into law in May, but Nassau County had remained one of the few jurisdictions that had not complied.
Blakeman said the county has terminated its 287(g) agreement with ICE. He displayed letters sent to the federal agency ending the arrangement and said the county is complying with the state law.
Surrounded by law enforcement officials on Wednesday, Blakeman said he disagrees with the law but will follow it.
"I believe in the rule of law, even when it is a bad law and this is a very bad and dangerous law," Blakeman said.
The decision came one day after subpoenas were issued to the Nassau Police Department and the Sheriff's Department. Nassau was one of two counties that had been refusing to comply with the law.
"This is one of the saddest days of my life as county executive, that because of this terrible and bad law that we have to adhere to I know it is going to make it more dangerous in Nassau County," Blakeman said.
Hochul spoke Tuesday as the Local Cops Local Crimes Act took effect, saying the law would prevent local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal immigration enforcement through such arrangements.
"ICE can no longer use locally funded police to carry out the Trump administration's aggressive immigration agenda. Local cops cannot be ordered to an event, an out of control agency with an $85 billion budget. Local cops can no longer be deputized to participate in disorderly raids that too often descend into chaos and violence," Hochul said.
Hochul also said, "New York State will never become a sanctuary for criminals. But at the same time, we're not talking about criminals, and we will not sit idly by when ICE commits atrocities on our streets."
Blakeman said the county would continue working with ICE while complying with the new law.
"We will continue to work with ICE, but we will abide by the technicalities of the law," Blakeman said.
The governor emphasized that any police department or sheriff's office that does not comply with the law could face legal action.
Blakeman said he met with sheriffs from around the state who have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the law and that he is directing the acting sheriff, through the county attorney, to join the lawsuit.
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