Only a single sheriff in the country agreed to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and turn over undocumented immigrants in jail, The New York Times reports.
Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo, a Republican, signed an agreement with ICE that 74 other sheriffs refused, drawing ire from Democrats, immigration activists and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who's office in Albany is not far from the sheriff's in Troy.
"State police agencies do not and will not engage in such activity, and we are troubled that one local sheriff in the state has decided to participate," said Cuomo's chief counsel Alphonso David. He added that the agreement is "contrary to the public policy and values of our state."
ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls applauded the decision, saying, "The partnerships with local law enforcement are invaluable force multipliers for ICE in the place we can be most effective in the fight to enhance public safety — local jails."
Although the sheriff's office has yet to begin the program, corrections officers will be trained to identify, interrogate and hand over undocumented immigrants to ICE. Cuomo and others warn that the program erodes immigrants' faith in law enforcement and makes them less likely to report crimes, which many police chiefs and sheriffs cited as their reason for refusing.
"I was kind of surprised when I heard that," Russo, 65, told the Times. "Because, to me, this is another tool in the toolbox and I am allowed to reach into the toolbox to make the county safer."
He added, "I could be wrong, but I don't see a big immigrant population here who would be affected."
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