Democrats Say It Protects Families; Republicans Warn It Threatens Safety.
By Kimmie Anderson
New City, NY — A proposed law in Rockland County has sparked debate between Democrats and Republicans over how local police should interact with federal immigration agents.
The bill, called the “Safety and Dignity for All Act”, was introduced by Democratic Legislator Beth Davidson last week on an upcoming public safety agenda (original story here). If passed, it would limit when and how local government employees, including police officers, can work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Rockland County’s Legislative calendar is listed on their website, here.
Under the bill, Rockland officials would only be allowed to cooperate with ICE if they have a federal criminal warrant—not just an immigration request. Supporters say this would protect immigrants from being unfairly detained or deported. Critics say it would put public safety at risk.
Democrats Say the Bill Is About Fairness and Trust
During a press release that was provided on Friday at 11 am, Davidson and fellow Democrats defended the bill, saying it would help families feel safer and prevent ICE from targeting people unfairly.
“Kids are skipping school because they’re afraid their parents will be deported,” Davidson said. “This bill doesn’t protect criminals—it protects the Constitution.”
The law would:
- Stop police and county workers from holding someone just because ICE asked.
- Prevent local officials from acting like federal immigration agents.
- Allow cooperation with ICE only when there’s a federal criminal warrant.
- Forbid using someone’s immigration status as a reason to question or arrest them.
Davidson said the law would make sure local government follows the Constitution and focuses on keeping communities safe—not doing ICE’s job.
Legislator Dana Stilley added that this isn’t the first time government power has been misused. “During the civil rights movement, authorities used laws to silence people and scare communities,” she said. “We can’t repeat that.”
Majority Leader Alden Wolfe said the bill would help build trust between the public and local government. “People shouldn’t be afraid to go to the doctor, send their kids to school, or call 911,” he said.
Republicans Say It’s a “Sanctuary” Bill That Puts People in Danger
At a separate press conference the same day, at 12 noon, Republican leaders spoke out strongly against the bill. They say it would make Rockland a “sanctuary county,” where undocumented immigrants can avoid law enforcement.
“Sanctuary policies are dangerous,” said Rep. Mike Lawler. “This bill would stop local police from working with ICE, even when they’re dealing with criminals.”
Lawler and others pointed to crimes committed in nearby counties by undocumented immigrants as evidence that the law would make communities less safe.
Sean O’Connor, president of the Rockland County Police Benevolent Association (PBA), said the bill would hurt police investigations. “We work with ICE to get information that helps us get criminal warrants,” he said. “This bill would cut off that communication.”
County Executive Ed Day, a former NYPD commander, said the bill puts politics ahead of public safety. “This is a dangerous move, and I won’t support it,” Day said.
Disagreements Over Process, Too
Some Republicans also criticized how the bill was introduced. Legislator Lon Hofstein said they didn’t get enough time to review it. “We were given a copy of Westchester’s law with no explanation,” he said.
Democrats said that wasn’t unusual. Legislator Paul Cleary, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said setting a public hearing before the final version is ready is standard practice. “Westchester passed a similar law years ago,” he added. “And it’s doing just fine.”
What Would the Law Do?
Supporters say the bill doesn’t make Rockland a “sanctuary” county. Instead, they argue that it ensures local law enforcement focuses on criminal activity—not immigration enforcement, which is a federal responsibility.
Republicans disagree. They say the bill would block useful cooperation and make it harder to deal with undocumented immigrants who commit crimes.
“Most crimes are handled at the state level,” said Lawler. “This bill would stop local police from working with ICE in many of those cases.”
National Tensions, Local Consequences
The debate comes as national conversations about immigration heat up. Recent protests and deadly shootings related to ICE enforcement have made the issue even more urgent. Democrats say the bill is a reasonable response to federal overreach. Republicans say it’s a dangerous idea that will make the county less safe.
The bill hasn’t been scheduled for a vote yet. But with Democrats holding a supermajority in the legislature, they could pass the bill even if County Executive Ed Day vetoes it—if they all choose vote along party lines.