New York County Jails Bill ICE $20 Million
State jails collected millions in detention fees before a new law moves to end the practice by November 2026.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Immigration
Live Poll
Should local county jails enter into revenue-generating contracts to house detainees for federal agencies?
New York county jails have billed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement approximately $20 million for detaining immigrants since early 2025. This billing practice faces a strict deadline as a new state law mandates that counties end their detention agreements with ICE by November 25, 2026.
Why it matters
Sheriffs previously utilized these federal revenue agreements to help offset the operational costs of local jail facilities. However, the state has now moved to prohibit such contracts, effectively barring local participation in federal immigrant detention.
Orange County charged ICE $8.4 million in 2025, a significant increase from $3.5 million the previous year. Meanwhile, federal authorities plan to open a soft-sided facility in Batavia with a 100-person capacity to replace local jail housing.
The players
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
This federal agency is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and coordinating with local jails for the detention of individuals.
Kathy Hochul
As the Governor of New York, she signed the legislation that prohibits local jails from entering into detention contracts with federal immigration authorities.
The details
County sheriffs issued monthly invoices based on daily per-detainee rates to cover housing and guard services. While some counties like Broome charged $110 per day per detainee, others experienced rising costs, with Orange County securing a rate increase to $233 per day in late 2025.
Timeline
January 2025 marked the start of the higher monthly billing cycle for Orange County.
November 2025 saw Orange County secure a 75 percent increase in its daily reimbursement rate.
May 2026 was the month Governor Hochul signed the law banning ICE detention contracts.
July 2026 concluded the documented billing period for Orange County records.
November 25, 2026, serves as the final deadline for counties to cease holding ICE detainees.
Political Context
The 2026 ban on ICE detention contracts reflects a broader shift by state leaders to decouple local criminal justice infrastructure from federal immigration enforcement. This move faces pushback from some local officials who argue that the revenue agreements were essential for maintaining fiscal solvency in their county jails.
Taxpayers in counties that relied on ICE revenue may see changes in local budget allocations or facility funding as these federal payments disappear. Residents should monitor local government meetings to see how sheriffs and county boards plan to manage jail costs without federal reimbursements.
The takeaway
The move to end federal detention contracts forces local governments to find new ways to balance their budgets beyond federal reimbursement. Residents may see local officials prioritizing alternative funding sources as the state enforces this major policy change.
What happens next
Counties are required to terminate all existing detention agreements with federal immigration authorities no later than November 25, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local policy shifts in our New York Immigration section.
Live Poll
Should local county jails enter into revenue-generating contracts to house detainees for federal agencies?
