Gov. Kathy Hochul and Letitia James, the attorney general, have sued the Trump administration to protect new state laws that are similar to the East End Public Safety and Accountability Law, a version of which was passed by both East Hampton Town and Village this spring.
On June 22, the Trump administration sued the state to stop the laws. In their countersuit, the governor and attorney general argue the Trump administration’s effort to prevent the laws from taking effect violate the Tenth Amendment.
“The complaint, filed by the attorney general at the governor’s request, asks the court to affirm the legality of these laws and prevent the Trump administration from interfering with New York’s authority to protect public safety, promote transparency, and govern the use of state and local resources,” read a press release from the governor.
“In New York, we believe in public safety, accountability, and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” Governor Hochul said. “These commonsense policies ensure that law enforcement operating in New York carry out their duties openly and transparently without intimidation or concealed identities. New York stands firmly behind these laws — and we will defend them every step of the way.”
One of the state laws, which were set to take effect last week, prohibits law enforcement officers from concealing their identities with masks while interacting with the public and also requires officers to display identification.
Another, the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act prohibits local governments “from entering into agreements to operate as immigration officers or to detain people solely for federal civil immigration violations,” according to the press release.
These partnerships are known as 287(g) agreements. Both were aspects of the laws passed in East Hampton.
“The law also prohibits the use of public subsidies for civil immigration detention facilities,” the release read.
The week before the state sued the Trump administration, Republican Representative Nick LaLota wrote a letter to Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez and East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen letting them know he would no longer entertain their requests for some federal community project funding, or “earmarks,” while the public safety acts remained on their books.
This week, Minerva Perez, executive director of Organizacion Latino Americana, wrote her own letter to Mr. LaLota reiterating comments made to The Star previously, that the East End law contains nothing “that would obstruct, impede, or refuse lawful cooperation with federal authorities carrying out their responsibilities under federal law. To the contrary, this local law would promote the rule of law and public safety,” she wrote.
Ms. Perez was the main proponent of the East Hampton laws, and showed up at public hearings to push for their passage. In her letter, she referred to the New York State laws.
“I recognize that New York State has also adopted Chapter 55 of the laws of 2026,” she wrote. “Your letter is silent on this state law. Among other things, the new state law precludes New York local governments from entering into 287(g) agreements.”
“I also note that since 287(g) was enacted in 1996, not a single Suffolk County local government has ever entered into a 287(g) agreement, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” she added.
“This state law applies to all local governments in New York State. Consequently, compliance with state law could not logically be a basis for you to discriminate against any single local government with regard to community project funding,” she concluded, and asked the congressman to provide her with specific critiques of the law.
East Hampton widely supported the passing of the East End Public Safety and Accountability Law after a winter of chaotic scenes played out across the country when federal officers, often masked and driving unmarked cars, apprehended individuals during immigration enforcement actions. Their tactics led to protests and civil disobedience, which led to the shootings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alexander Pretti, in Minneapolis in January.
“New York has the sovereign right to pass laws that protect public safety and transparency for all New Yorkers,” wrote Ms. James in the press release. “Law enforcement officers operating in our communities should be clearly identifiable, and local resources should be used to address local public safety needs. My office will defend these commonsense protections and New York’s authority to enforce them.”
