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ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that her administration will allocate $75 million in grants for law enforcement agencies across New York for technology upgrades, but the funding is contingent upon those agencies complying with a new law intended to curb state and local agencies from aiding federal agencies with “civil” immigration enforcement.
Speaking in the Long Island village of Freeport earlier this week, Hochul said the state would allocate $100 million for law enforcement efforts, including the $75 million for the technology grant program for police departments and sheriff’s offices located outside New York City. The remaining $25 million will go towards the creation of a new state records management system.
“If you’ve not been a beneficiary before, please step up. You cannot imagine the difference that it will make in your community,” Hochul said. “I’m committed to keeping this state as safe as possible, and we’re going to continue our support for local law enforcement because they are literally on the front lines of protecting their communities.”
The grants, known formally as the LETech Grant Program, goes towards new technology and equipment upgrades for law enforcement agencies. Eligible items to be purchased through the grants include drones, license plate readers and laser scanners for crime scenes. In 2024, the state issued $127 million in grants through the program.
In order to be eligible, law enforcement agencies must show they are in compliance with the “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” passed by the state Legislature in May as part of this year’s fiscal budget. The law was passed in response to actions taken by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the administration of President Donald J. Trump. The law prohibits police from entering into voluntary agreements, also known as 287(g) agreements, that allow for state or local resources such as jails to be used for federal immigration enforcement involving noncriminal, administrative charges.
The application form for the grant issued by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services makes clear that law enforcement must abide by the new rules, and that none of the new technology can be used to assist in civil immigration enforcement.
“No application will be considered should the applicant be determined to be operating a 287(g) agreement, or similar agreements, with the federal government which would support state and local resources being used for civil immigration enforcement purposes,” the form states. “Further, no data or information generated by technology or equipment procured with these funds shall be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes.”
Law enforcement officials and organizations representing them, such as the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, had earlier in the year expressed their opposition to the law, saying that it interfered with their duties and independence as well as politicizes law enforcement.
Peter Kehoe, executive director of the sheriffs’ association, said that many county sheriffs remained opposed to the measure, but that they intend to follow the new law while planning to fight it in the court system, meaning their grant eligibility would not be affected.
“I have heard a few sheriff’s offices saying that they’re going to challenge it, and some of the county governments have said they’re going to challenge it, too, because that has financial implications for them,” Kehoe said. “I don’t think it’ll be a stumbling block (for grant eligibility). We’re very grateful any time we can get financial support.”
In the Capital Region, Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault has previously stated he would not comply with the law and intends to file a lawsuit challenging the measure. Bourgault declined to comment for the story.
Other county sheriffs in the state, including Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple and Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, have expressed support for the new law.
In the previous round of LETech grants issued in 2024, several counties within the Capital Region had received more than $1 million in grants for various law enforcement agencies. Agencies in Albany and Schenectady counties had received nearly $5 million in grants combined, while $1.9 million was given to agencies in Rensselaer County and $1.3 million to agencies in Saratoga County. Monroe County, home to the city of Rochester, was given the highest amount of any eligible county in the state with more than $24 million allocated for various agencies in the county.
