Press Releases
Lawler, Law Enforcement, and Community Leaders Oppose Rockland “Immigration Protection Act”
New City, N.Y.,
February 2, 2026
New City, N.Y. – 2/2/26… Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Rockland County Executive Ed Day, local elected officials, members of the Rockland County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and community leaders on Monday to announce their opposition to the proposed “Our Safety and Dignity for All Act.” Being introduced by County Legislator Beth Davidson, this legislation would sharply limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
WATCH: CONGRESSMAN MIKE LAWLER DENOUCNE SANCTUARY POLICES FOR ROCKLAND COUNTY WITH LOCAL LEADERS
The proposal, which remains under development, draws from policies adopted by Westchester County’s “Immigration Protection Act.” Those rules limited county-level coordination with immigration authorities primarily to cases involving criminal charges or when a federal judge had issued a warrant. The policy applied only to Westchester County agencies, including public safety, corrections, and probation. By prohibiting Rockland County employees and law enforcement from proactively cooperating with ICE, restricting the sharing of immigration status information, local law enforcement would be barred from honoring federal immigration detainers, measures opponents say would undermine public safety and put officers and citizens at risk. “In October 2024, a 15-year-old Somers HS student, Michael Raimondi, was brutally murdered, while his brother and mother were shot, by Fernando Andres Jimenez Meza, an illegal immigrant who was previously deported in 2004. Under the Sanctuary County law adopted by Westchester County, the District Attorney’s office, County Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Probation were all precluded from cooperating with Federal Immigration Officials. This is but one example of many of the consequences of sanctuary city/county policies in which law enforcement is prohibited by feckless politicians from doing their jobs,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).
“Sanctuary policies are idiotic and dangerous. They make our communities less safe, endanger the public, put law enforcement in a difficult position, and violate federal law. Rockland County stands with law enforcement. Rockland County stands for public safety. And Rockland County will not adopt policies that make our communities less safe. As long as I am a Congressman, Rockland County will not become a Sanctuary County,” concluded Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17). “Local police departments know their communities. Our officers understand the unique needs, concerns, and dynamics of the neighborhoods they serve and rely on communication, trust, and professional discretion to resolve situations safely and peacefully whenever possible. The ability for local law enforcement to coordinate with all appropriate partners, without unnecessary restrictions, allows incidents to be handled responsibly and in a manner that prioritizes both public safety and community trust,” said Police Chiefs Association of Rockland County, Rockland County PBA, Town of Haverstraw PBA, and Town of Ramapo PBA in a joint statement. VIDEO: Remarks from today’s event can be found HERE. Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. ### |
