Hochul ICE policy ‘written in the blood of victims,’ opponent says as sheriffs sue

New York Gov.

Kathy Hochul faces new legal and political challenges over a law restricting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE after her Republican gubernatorial opponent warned it was "written in the blood" of crime victims.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose county borders sanctuary New York City , warned more New Yorkers will be hurt by Hochul’s move, pointing to recent cases of people maimed by illegal immigrants.

"I want to be very clear about this law: This law is written in the blood of the victims, past, present and future," Blakeman said.

"This law is completely misguided and will make our communities less safe," Blakeman said.

"We have a governor and a legislature [wherein] every major criminal justice initiative makes it easier for criminals to prey on our communities." DEM GOVERNOR IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TESTING LIMITS OF AUTHORITY WITH MAJOR MOVE AGAINST ICE Blakeman’s warning came as a coalition of 15 sheriffs representing counties from the shore of Lake Champlain to the Massachusetts line filed a lawsuit challenging the ban on 287(g) ICE agreements .

His campaign referred Fox News Digital to his remarks when asked for additional comment.

In a memo outlining the "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act," Hochul argued that "current federal immigration efforts have made communities less safe" and that using local officers and assets for federal civil immigration enforcement draws resources away from local public-safety functions.

A Hochul spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Blakeman’s "understanding of New York’s bail and immigration laws is incorrect," and said the governor’s top priority remains public safety.

BLAKEMAN CUTS INTO HOCHUL'S NEW YORK GOVERNOR'S RACE LEAD IN NEW POLL, AS LIKELY VOTERS GIVE DSA JUDGMENT "The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act does not tie the hands of our police or stop them from apprehending dangerous criminals, and local law enforcement can and will continue to work with federal authorities on criminal investigations and violent crime just as they always have," the spokesperson said, adding that the law doesn't prevent cooperation on "ordinary criminal investigations." EXCLUSIVE: LEGAL GROUP TELLS NYPD COPS THEY CAN CONTACT ICE DIRECTLY DESPITE BLUE CITY'S SANCTUARY RULES Hochul recently signaled she'd enlist Attorney General Letitia James to take action against counties that do not comply with the law, while quipping that police should not be converging on churches and schools to help "Stephen Miller reach his quotas." Miller is a White House aide credited with crafting much of President Donald Trump's immigration policy.

"We have reviewed this law with the county attorneys and we looked for every possible way not to comply with this law," Blakeman said in his recent remarks.