Immigration enforcement took center stage in the governor's race this week as Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman clashed anew over a state policy directly affecting the Long Island county Blakeman leads.
Blakeman has been vocal in touting Nassau County's partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and in denouncing New York's move in May to bar formal cooperation pacts like Nassau's. That conflict came to a head on Tuesday, Aug. 25, when the ban on 287(g) agreements took effect and put an end to 12 deals that New York counties and villages had struck with ICE.
Blakeman vented fury at a press conference the next day, announcing his county will comply with the ban and had severed its agreement, but will also
join a new lawsuit by sheriffs who are challenging the law. Standing with lines of police and ICE officials, Blakeman argued the law will harm public safety and went after Hochul for supporting it.
"This is one of the saddest days of my life as county executive, that because of this terrible and bad law that we have to adhere to, I know it's going to make it more dangerous here in Nassau County," he said.
The ban was one of several constraints Hochul and Democratic lawmakers enacted in May in response to the Trump administration's deportation campaign and what they see as its abuses. Immigrant advocates had pushed in vain for a broader stop to police cooperation, since prohibiting 287(g) agreements — which are rare in New York — doesn't prevent police from informally working with ICE.
"We will not sit idly by when ICE commits atrocities on our streets," Hochul said at a press conference when the ban took effect on Aug. 25. "We will not allow local cops to be diverted as ICE agents to conduct civil immigration enforcement. To keep crime down, as we have been doing, we need local police focused on thwarting local crimes."
Blakeman later recoiled at the "atrocities" line, demanding that Hochul "name one" and saying that ICE had raided no churches, schools or day care centers in his county while detaining immigrants.
"I don't know what 'atrocities' you're referring to," he fumed.
Hochul's campaign responded by listing examples, including the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis in January that set off waves of national outrage — and fueled the push in New York for constraints. It pointed out Blakeman defended the agent who shot Good by saying the videos seemed to show she was "trying to run down the ICE officer."
Canada trade war gives Hochul new ammo
Hochul's campaign has battered Blakeman for his avid support for President Donald Trump and used it to link her opponent to an Iran war and tariffs that have driven up costs for New Yorkers. And that line of criticism got fresh fodder as Trump added new 50% tariffs to Canadian imports and set off retaliatory tariff plans by America's closest ally and neighbor.
"This is doing nothing more than wreaking havoc on the American economy, all from his social media account," Hochul told a gathering at the opening of the New York State Fair in Syracuse on Aug. 26. "So it's basically taking money out of our pockets, your pockets, and raising costs for everyday New Yorkers just so the President can settle some personal scores."
Her campaign then sent out excerpts from a TV interview in which Blakeman was pressed about whether Trump's Canada tariffs would harm New York businesses. Blakeman initially said tariffs "aren't the issues that are really hurting our people here in New York," then declined to talk further about "federal issues."
Blakeman revives Hochul gaffe insulting to Blacks
Blakeman's campaign reached into the video vault this week for its own new ammo: a racially insensitive remark Hochul made at a conference in 2024 and soon walked back. Paradoxically, she was speaking at the time about helping low-income communities by providing greater access to artificial intelligence technologies to expand job opportunities.
"Right now, we have young Black kids growing up in the Bronx who don't even know what the word 'computer' is," Hochul said.
Blakeman's campaign used the clip to build a new digital ad that hits Hochul for a hurtful stereotype. Blakeman cheerfully acknowledged his own technology deficits in a statement announcing the ad.
"Kathy Hochul should be ashamed of herself for using racist stereotypes about black kids," he said. "I will admit to everyone that there is no 12-year-old black kid in New York State that's worse at a computer than me.”
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY governor's race veers to ICE pacts with police as ban takes effect
