A New York state grant program providing millions of dollars to help police departments and sheriffs’ offices advance their technology and equipment now requires compliance with the state’s immigration enforcement restrictions.
Departments applying for the second round of the Law Enforcement Technology, or LETech, Grant Program, which will allocate $75 million to agencies outside New York City through the recently passed state budget, will need to adhere to the recently enacted “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” to receive funding.
The new measure has drawn criticism, especially among police departments across the state, as it bans formal cooperation pacts, or 287(g) agreements, that local law enforcement agencies may sign with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It’s also currently entwined in a legal battle as both the Trump administration and New York state have filed dueling lawsuits over its constitutionality.
Here’s what to know.
How the LETech Grant Program works
The grant program, which previously awarded nearly 380 agencies $127 million, is administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services and is only available to departments outside of New York City, according to Hochul’s office.
Working on a tiered funding system, the maximum grant awards are based on the number of full-time, equivalent sworn officers that each agency employs, ranging from $100,000 for departments with 10 or less officers up to $6 million for agencies with more than 1,001 officers.
Agencies can use the money to fund technology and equipment from drones and body worn cameras to automated external defibrillators and communication platforms to engage with their communities.
Why are agencies now required to abide by new immigration enforcement regulations to qualify?
According to Hochul’s office, the request for applications “requires agencies to comply with all applicable provisions of the recently enacted “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” to receive funding through the program.”
More specifics about the new requirement are outlined in the application form, which states the following: “No application will be considered should the applicant be determined to be operating a 287(g) agreement, or similar agreements, with the federal government which would support state and local resources being used for civil immigration enforcement purposes.”
Applicants are also banned from using any data generated by the new technology purchased through the awarded grant funds for immigration enforcement.
“Further, no data or information generated by technology or equipment procured with these funds shall be used for immigration enforcement purposes,” the application form adds.
When asked about why this is now a requirement, a spokesperson for the governor’s office said the “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” wasn’t law during the first round of the LETech program and referred back to a statement Hochul made during her State of the State address earlier this year.
“New York will not allow the use of State resources to assist in federal immigration raids on people who have not committed serious crimes,” Hochul said. “Public safety will always come first, but it must be pursued lawfully and with humanity.”
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY police following anti-ICE law are now eligible for this $75M grant
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emily Barnes, New York State Team | USA TODAY Network
