Trump Criticizes Governor Kathy Hochul for New York’s Ban on ICE Partnerships

Former President Donald Trump has taken aim at New York Governor Kathy Hochul regarding her immigration enforcement policies, especially following the detention of over 2,000 undocumented immigrants. Trump argued that Hochul’s decisions allow these individuals to return to the streets. In a related development, fifteen local sheriffs in New York are suing the governor because of the state’s ban on collaborating with ICE.

In another part of the political landscape, Republican Tom Tiffany, a candidate for governor in Wisconsin, expressed his commitment to require local sheriffs to work with federal immigration authorities. His stance sharply contrasts with that of his opponent, Democrat David Crowley, during their general election debate.

Tiffany insisted that Wisconsin’s law enforcement should comply with federal immigration detainers, asserting that such cooperation enables authorities to remove undocumented immigrants charged with crimes while they are still in county jails. “I will ensure that local, county, and state law enforcement coordinate with federal law enforcement,” he stated during the debate held by WISN-TV.

When asked if he would make this cooperation a legal requirement, Tiffany confirmed, “Yes, I believe we should. They should honor detainers.”

On the other hand, Crowley, who serves as the Milwaukee County executive, indicated that he wouldn’t support a blanket refusal to work with federal immigration authorities. He acknowledged that immigrants convicted of crimes deserve deportation, but argued for restrictions on ICE, such as requiring judicial warrants for agents entering jails and prisons, and banning certain practices like agents wearing masks.

“We need to ensure we’re protecting people’s civil liberties,” Crowley remarked.

Throughout Wisconsin, immigration enforcement has surged as a significant issue, particularly with the increase in ICE arrests coinciding with the Trump administration’s intensified deportation strategies this summer.

The clash between Trump’s immigration policies and state or local governments has put sheriffs and police departments at the center of a broader national conversation about how much support local authorities should extend to federal agents in executing mass deportations.

Already, this debate is unfolding across Wisconsin. Currently, twenty county law enforcement agencies partake in ICE’s 287(g) program, which enables selected local officers to carry out specific immigration enforcement tasks. The topic has also surfaced in sheriff races in regions like Sauk and Winnebago counties as the elections approach in November.

As Trump’s presidency has progressed, there has been a marked rise in federal immigration enforcement activities. Recent federal statistics show that ICE arrests in Wisconsin hit record levels this past summer, with over 2,100 individuals detained between January 2025 and the latest available data.

The immigration issue has become quite complex for both political parties as they gear up for the midterms. Republicans are actively campaigning on issues of border security and immigration law enforcement, while Democrats have ramped up their criticisms of the Trump administration’s deportation policies and the actions of ICE agents.