Democrats in Rockland County, New York, are moving quickly to introduce legislation that would restrict county workers from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, igniting a heated political clash.
According to the New York Post, the proposed “Our Safety and Dignity for All Act” aims to prevent county law enforcement and other officials from assisting ICE except in cases involving criminal investigations or judicial warrants.
The measure is modeled after Westchester County’s 2018 law, which similarly limited local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
County Executive Ed Day, a Republican and retired NYPD lieutenant commander, immediately signaled his opposition.
“There’s no way I would support this horrible legislation. It’s reckless,” Day told The Post Thursday. “Rockland will not become a sanctuary county under my watch.”
Day accused Democrats of exploiting recent tragedies in Minneapolis—where two citizens were fatally shot by federal agents during protests—to push a politically motivated agenda.
Republican Congressman Mike Lawler echoed the criticism, calling the bill a “radical” effort that sacrifices public safety for political gain.
“Beth Davidson is willing to sacrifice the safety of Rockland County residents for the support of far-left radical Democrats she believes can help her win her congressional primary,” Lawler said.
Democrats, however, defended the legislation as a necessary step to protect residents from federal overreach while still ensuring accountability for criminal activity.
“That’s nonsense and Mike Lawler knows it,” said County Legislator Beth Davidson, who is spearheading the effort.
“Our Safety and Dignity for All Act will protect all Rockland residents from Trump’s rogue ICE agents while complying with judicial warrants and following the law.”
Davidson emphasized that the law would not shield anyone involved in criminal conduct from prosecution or deportation, and that the county would comply with all court orders.
With a Democratic supermajority in the Rockland legislature, proponents could override Day’s threatened veto if they act in unison. The move comes as outrage over ICE’s actions in Minneapolis fuels nationwide debates over immigration enforcement.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has also proposed statewide measures to restrict ICE raids in sensitive locations and allow lawsuits against federal agents for constitutional violations, signaling a broader push by New York Democrats to rein in federal immigration authorities.
The bill is scheduled for a future legislative hearing, though the full text has not yet been released.
