Hochul boasts 'I just banned it' as New York outlaws local police partnerships with ICE

New York Gov.

Kathy Hochul said Friday on "Morning Joe" that New York banned formal civil immigration-enforcement agreements between local law enforcement and ICE because she wants officers focused on local crime, while a DHS spokesperson said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital that the restriction will force more federal agents into communities as 15 county sheriffs challenge the law in federal court.

"When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities," the DHS spokesperson said.

"Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.

Instead of working with us, Governor Hochul and Attorney General James are choosing to RELEASE violent criminals from their jails directly back into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims." DHS cited five New York cases involving noncitizens who it said remained at large or were released despite ICE detainers after arrests or convictions involving attempted murder, rape, assault, weapons charges or child endangerment.

ICE later took all five into custody, and one was removed to Mexico, the department said.

BORDER CZAR HOMAN VOWS TO 'FLOOD' NEW YORK WITH ICE AGENTS DESPITE HOCHUL'S RESISTANCE Hochul’s office responded to DHS’s criticism Friday in a statement to Fox News Digital, disputing the department’s characterization of the law’s public-safety consequences.

"Governor Hochul has been clear: You don't make New York State safer by co-opting local law enforcement to conduct civil immigration enforcement that targets families, children and hardworking individuals," a Hochul spokesperson said.

"A federal court has already upheld New York’s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, and the state will continue to work with federal and local law enforcement in cracking down on violent offenders while keeping our communities safe and enforcing our laws." During the interview on "Morning Joe ", co-host Willie Geist asked whether ICE could still secure agreements with New York police forces.

DEM GOVERNOR IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TESTING LIMITS OF AUTHORITY WITH MAJOR MOVE AGAINST ICE "I just banned it," Hochul said.

"It's against the law now in the state of New York to have these agreements." The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, signed in May, took effect Tuesday .

It prohibits state and local entities from entering or remaining in 287(g) agreements, which let trained local personnel perform certain federal civil immigration functions under ICE supervision.