Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Friday barring law enforcement officers — including federal agents — to wear masks while interacting with the public in New York, part of a broader immigration package aimed at restricting ICE operations in the state.
The measures, included in the state’s fiscal year 2027 enacted budget, prohibit state and local agencies from using public resources for civil immigration enforcement; block local governments from entering into agreements that deputize police and corrections officers to carry out federal immigration work; and limit immigration authorities’ access to schools, hospitals, houses of worship and other sensitive locations without a judicial warrant.
