Caribbean immigration advocates welcome launch of Immigrant Trust Office

Caribbean immigration advocates on July 24 welcomed the launch of the New York State-led Office of Immigrant Trust (OIT) aimed at not colluding with federal immigration enforcement, such as United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

On Friday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of OIT, charged with investigating potential unlawful collusion by State and local government employees with federal immigration enforcement, and sent letters to the 12 local law enforcement agencies in New York that currently have 287(g) agreements with ICE, informing them that state law requires they unwind the agreements by Aug. 25.

“New York State is not in the business of doing ICE’s dirty work.” Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), told Caribbean Life.

NYIC is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York.

“New Yorkers should have full confidence that State and local agencies are fully implementing recently enacted laws that limit collaboration with ICE and Border Patrol, and expand data protections in interactions with government agencies,” Awawdeh said. “The Office of Immigrant Trust, under the authority of the New York State Attorney General, will play a vital role in ensuring compliance with these laws, particularly in ensuring all local jurisdictions terminate all 287(g) agreements and that New Yorkers are not held in local jails for alleged immigration violations.

“We applaud Attorney General Letitia James for swiftly creating this office, and look forward to working with OIT and other State partners to ensure that State resources are never used to disappear our immigrant neighbors,” he added.

James and Hochul said the new OIT is a first-of-its-kind statewide bureau within the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

Created as part of a legislative package championed and signed by Hochul on May 27, 2026, James said OIT is “dedicated to enforcing New York laws that protect immigrant communities, strengthen public trust, and limit the use of state and local resources for federal civil immigration enforcement.”

As part of its duties, she said OIT will receive complaints, provide guidance to state and local agencies, conduct investigations, and take legal action when necessary to ensure compliance with state law.

“New York is strongest when every community is able to trust the institutions meant to serve them,” said Attorney General James. “The Office of Immigrant Trust will help ensure that schools, local governments, and public agencies remain places of safety and support, rather than agents of the federal administration’s campaign of fear and intimidation.

“My office is proud to stand up for immigrant New Yorkers and prepared to hold anyone who violates our laws accountable,” she added.

Hochul said: “Nobody is above the law. In New York, we will not tolerate the diversion of local resources for federal civil immigration enforcement at the expense of public safety.

“That is why we passed a commonsense set of laws standing up against federal overreach and ensuring that local law enforcement is not deputized by the highest funded law enforcement agency in the country,” she said. “My top priority is keeping New Yorkers safe. Ensuring our law enforcement remains focused on local crimes is essential to protecting our communities and maintaining public safety.”

The letters sent on July 24 notified the 12 local New York law enforcement agencies with existing 287(g) agreements that New York law now prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from participating in any formal or informal 287(g) agreement and using correctional facilities, juvenile detention facilities, and facilities for youth to house federal civil immigration detainees.

Under the new state law, James said existing 287(g) agreements must be terminated by Aug. 25, 2026.

She said Section 287(g) agreements allowed local officers or employees to engage in or assist with federal civil immigration enforcement or otherwise perform the functions of federal immigration officers, “eroding trust between immigrant communities and local institutions, and making residents less likely to report crimes, seek help, or cooperate with law enforcement.”

James said the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements or similar arrangements that use local resources to detain people for federal immigration violations.

“This provision ensures that New York’s local law enforcement resources are directed toward local public safety priorities, rather than the federal government’s mass deportation agenda,” she said.

Through OIT, the attorney general said she will ensure that municipalities comply with New York law, and that “state and local institutions remain focused on protecting and serving New Yorkers.”

James said the OIT was established as part of a package of state laws designed to limit state and local involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement, safeguard local resources and public safety, and protect immigrant communities across New York.

She said these laws restrict the use of state and local resources for civil immigration enforcement; limit sharing certain sensitive information with federal immigration authorities; implement new protections for students and families in schools; and ban local governments and law enforcement agencies from having or entering into agreements for civil immigration enforcement with ICE under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

James said the OIT is part of OAG’s Social Justice Division, and is authorized to investigate complaints and potential violations involving state and local entities, officers, employees, contractors, and schools.

She said the OIT may issue subpoenas, interview witnesses, review records, and bring civil actions for potential violations when warranted.

In addition, the attorney general said the OIT will develop guidance and training recommendations to help state and local governments protect sensitive information from improper immigration enforcement consistent with applicable law.

“New Yorkers who witness federal enforcement actions anywhere in the state should report them to OAG through the federal action portal,” James urged.

She said New Yorkers who believe that a state or local agency, employee, contractor, school, or other covered entity has violated state laws related to civil immigration enforcement are encouraged to contact the OAG hotline at 1-800-771-7755.

James said the Office of Immigrant Trust will also be launching an online civil complaint form in the coming weeks.