Westchester County operates as a welcoming jurisdiction. County Executive orders limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant, and the NY State Trust Act guidance restricts state and local officers from acting as ICE agents.
Westchester County Executive directives restrict the County Department of Correction and County Police from honoring civil ICE detainers without a judicial warrant or court order. The county does not ask about immigration status when delivering benefits or services and bars use of resources for civil immigration enforcement. The NY State Trust Act directive issued by the Attorney General provides similar guidance to municipal agencies statewide. Yonkers, White Plains, and other cities have adopted parallel welcoming-city policies. Federal criminal warrants are still honored, and federal authorities may operate independently within Westchester.
Officials who improperly hold someone for ICE without a judicial warrant can expose the county to civil rights damages under federal Section 1983. Internal discipline is also possible for policy breaches.
See how Yonkers's sanctuary policy preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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