Blakeman Will End New York Sanctuary Policies on January 1

The gubernatorial candidate plans an executive order to reverse current state immigration enforcement restrictions.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a state legislative building, evoking the gravity of New York's immigration enforcement policy. — Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman announced plans to sign an executive order on January 1, 2027, to end New York's sanctuary state policies. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman announced plans to sign an executive order on January 1, 2027, to end New York sanctuary state policies. The move aims to increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

Why it matters

Republicans argue that current state policies prevent necessary cooperation with federal agents, hindering public safety efforts. They seek to reverse regulations that limit the ability of local police to assist in immigration enforcement.

Department of Homeland Security records indicate nearly 7,000 illegal immigrants were released by New York authorities despite active ICE hold requests. Fifteen local sheriffs have also filed a lawsuit challenging the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.

The players

Bruce Blakeman

He is a political candidate running for governor of New York who has campaigned on reversing state immigration policies.

Kathy Hochul

She is the current Governor of New York who has faced criticism from Republican opponents regarding state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Mike Lawler

He is a U.S. Representative who has publicly criticized the current state administration's handling of immigration enforcement cooperation.

Juan Guambana

He is an Ossining resident who was arrested and charged with six felony counts of unlawful surveillance.

Diego Rodriguez-Ordonez

He is a Brewster resident with eight criminal convictions who was arrested twice in Putnam County.

The details

The announcement follows concerns over recent criminal activity, including the arrests of Juan Guambana and Diego Rodriguez-Ordonez, who had previous deportation records. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which took effect in August 2026, currently prohibits local officers from fulfilling specific immigration enforcement duties for ICE.

Diego Rodriguez-Ordonez was previously deported in 2018.
Juan Guambana was deported in 2020 and returned in 2021.
The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act took effect in August 2026.
Bruce Blakeman plans to sign the sanctuary policy executive order on January 1, 2027.

Political Context

The proposed executive order represents a direct challenge to the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which currently limits local police from acting as federal immigration agents. Opponents of this shift argue that such orders could face significant legal hurdles and conflict with existing state statutes regarding police authority.

Residents may see significant changes in how local law enforcement interacts with federal immigration agents if the executive order is enacted. These shifts could lead to changes in local police resource allocation and potential legal challenges in state courts.

The takeaway

The upcoming change highlights the tension between state-level sanctuary protections and local law enforcement operations. Voters will see a clear divergence in approach to managing criminal enforcement cooperation with federal agencies.