The city already makes it difficult for immigration agents to get information about illegal residents — and on Monday, the City Council took more steps to shut out the feds.
The council’s Committee on Immigration voted unanimously to pass a bill prohibiting local law enforcement from entering partnerships with agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce immigration laws.
The full council is expected to easily approve the legislation, which would severely limit federal agents’ ability to use city property, employees and other resources to go after undocumented immigrants.
“The city already cooperates with ICE on its own terms through [current] laws,” said council member Rafael Espinal (D-Brooklyn), a bill co-sponsor. “Any broader or formal arrangement would erode public trust in law enforcement and city agencies. It would also waste local taxpayer dollars.”