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Tag: immigration_policy

  • New York Sheriffs Take Hochul to Court Over ICE Cooperation Ban

    New York Sheriffs Take Hochul to Court Over ICE Cooperation Ban

    By Auxio.tv News | August 29, 2026

    Fifteen New York county sheriffs are challenging a new state law that blocks local law-enforcement agencies from maintaining formal 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    The law, known as the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in May. It prohibits state and local agencies from entering into or remaining in agreements that allow local officers to perform certain federal civil immigration-enforcement functions. Existing agreements had to be terminated by August 25. 

    The sheriffs filed suit on August 25, arguing that Albany should not be able to prevent locally elected law-enforcement officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have defended the law and say local police resources should remain focused on local crime rather than federal civil immigration enforcement. 

    That disagreement gets to a larger issue than immigration alone.

    The question is who gets to decide how local law enforcement uses its authority.

    Sheriffs are elected locally. Albany writes state law. Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility.

    When those three levels of government disagree, the dispute quickly becomes one of institutional power.

    New York has already begun enforcing the law. On August 27, James and Hochul sued the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, saying it failed to terminate its 287(g) agreement by the deadline. The state says Rensselaer was the only one of the 12 agencies with preexisting agreements that had not indicated it would comply. 

    The state also won an early court victory earlier this month. On August 3, a federal judge declined to issue a preliminary injunction blocking New York’s 287(g) ban in a separate challenge brought by the federal government. 

    That does not end the current sheriffs’ lawsuit.

    It does show that the legal fight has already moved beyond political rhetoric.

    For Hochul, the argument is that local police should not be diverted into federal immigration work.

    For the sheriffs, the issue is whether the state can prevent elected local law-enforcement officials from voluntarily assisting federal authorities.

    Both sides are now asking the courts to decide where that authority begins and ends.

    The practical question is just as important as the constitutional one:

    If local agencies believe cooperation with ICE makes their communities safer, should Albany be able to stop them?

    Or does allowing each county to set its own immigration-enforcement policy create a patchwork the state has a legitimate interest in controlling?

    That is the dispute now moving through the courts.

    Auxio.tv News Now

  • Whatley Makes Border Security Central to North Carolina Senate Bid

    Whatley Makes Border Security Central to North Carolina Senate Bid

    By Auxio.tv News | August 28, 2026

    Michael Whatley is sharpening his U.S. Senate campaign around border security, public safety and support for President Donald Trump’s agenda as he works to close the gap against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

    Whatley, the Republican nominee for North Carolina’s open Senate seat, has made immigration enforcement a central part of his campaign message, arguing that Washington needs stronger border controls and tougher enforcement policies.

    That approach fits the broader strategy of his campaign: make the race a choice between continuing Trump-era policies on immigration, energy and public safety or returning North Carolina to Democratic leadership in the Senate.

    The political challenge for Whatley is straightforward.

    He is running against one of the best-known political figures in the state.

    An Elon University poll released August 12 found Cooper leading Whatley 53% to 42% among likely voters. The same poll also showed a major familiarity gap: 84% of registered voters said they had heard at least some about Cooper, compared with 53% for Whatley. 

    That means Whatley does not simply need to persuade voters.

    He also needs more voters to know who he is.

    Border security gives him an issue that is easy to understand, closely associated with Trump and likely to energize Republican voters.

    For Whatley, the argument is that immigration policy is not an abstract national debate. It affects crime, labor markets, public spending and confidence in whether government is enforcing its own laws.

    That message also gives him a clear contrast with Cooper without requiring voters to know every detail of the Senate race.

    Whatley has the money to compete

    The campaign also has meaningful financial resources.

    Federal Election Commission records show Whatley’s authorized committees reported roughly $11.27 million in receipts through June 30, with about $3.46 million cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. 

    That does not erase an 11-point polling deficit.

    But it gives Whatley the ability to advertise, organize and introduce himself to voters who may know Cooper far better.

    The Elon poll itself suggested that the race becomes significantly more competitive among voters who are already familiar with Whatley. 

    That may be the most important number for his campaign.

    If Whatley’s problem is partly one of name recognition rather than simple rejection, then a focused message on border security and the Trump agenda could give him a path to tighten the race.

    The election may come down to definition

    Cooper enters the general election with the advantage of statewide name recognition after serving as governor and attorney general.

    Whatley enters with something different: a national Republican profile, Trump’s backing and a campaign that can tie itself closely to issues already motivating the GOP base.

    The question is whether that is enough to expand beyond committed Republicans.

    A Senate candidate does not win North Carolina by appealing only to the party base.

    Independent voters matter.

    Suburban voters matter.

    Turnout matters.

    And the candidate who successfully defines the race usually gains an advantage before voters start paying close attention in the final weeks.

    Whatley is now trying to define it around security, enforcement and whether Washington has lost control of the border.

    That is a politically favorable battlefield for Republicans.

    The challenge is converting that issue advantage into enough support to overcome Cooper’s substantial head start in familiarity.

    With the general election approaching, Whatley’s strategy is becoming clearer:

    Make the race less about who voters already know — and more about what they believe Washington should do next.

    Auxio.tv News Now