New York Attorney General Updates Legal Guidance For “Sanctuary” Jurisdictions, Making Clear: President Trump’s Deportation Policies Don’t Change Local Governments’ Right To Protect Immigrant Communities
Yesterday, in response to President Trump’s recent executive orders and Department of Homeland Security memoranda, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman updated his legal guidance to support local governments and law enforcement agencies in protecting vulnerable immigrant communities. Attorney General Schneiderman’s memo makes it clear that no part of President Trump’s policies changes local governments’ right to protect their immigrant communities by codifying “sanctuary” policies into local laws. The A.G.’s Updated Guidance Can Be Found Here
Anticipating major changes to federal immigration enforcement, on January 19thAttorney General Schneiderman released legal guidance to provide localities and local law enforcement with model laws and policies to become sanctuary jurisdictions. Since the guidance was issued, at least 9 localities across New York State have used it to protect their immigrant communities, regardless of new federal enforcement practices. Those localities include Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Albany, Kingston, Newburgh, Hudson, White Plains, and Irvington.
“Our legal guidance is clear: President Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally transform state and local police into federal immigration agents,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We know that effective policing – and safe neighborhoods – depend on building and maintaining trust with the communities our officers bravely serve. Yet President Trump’s draconian immigration policies seek to undercut that trust, threatening to drive immigrant communities underground and make them fearful to report crimes, serve as witnesses, and more. The fact that local governments across New York State are utilizing our guidance sends a strong message that we will do what it takes to protect our immigrant communities.”
KJ