Quattrone Discusses 'Local Cops, Local Crimes' Act

While Chautauqua County does not have a voluntary agreement in place to assist Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in federal civil immigration enforcement, the county's top cop says his department will continue to work with ICE when it comes to serving criminal or judicial warrants. Sheriff Jim Quattrone spoke about Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed Local Cops, Local Crimes Act as a guest on WDOE's "Viewpoint" program on Friday. He says an issue he has with that bill is that it would limit the constitutional authority of his office...

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The legislation would prevent local and state police from being co-opted by ICE. Eight counties in New York currently have a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Quattrone says there is a "multi-fold" reason Chautauqua County does not have one. He says part of it is due to the space in the county's facilities...

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Quattrone added that his department is not participating in the enforcement of civil warrants because he believes there's no due process. He says he and other sheriffs across the state are concerned specifically about asylum seekers who have come to the United States legally but have, at times, been invited to fill out paperwork -- only to be placed in correctional facilities.

Click here to listen to the entire "Viewpoint" interview featuring Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone.

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