County Executive Steve McLaughlin and Undersheriff Michael Dinardo of Rensselaer County, New York, announced on Monday that they will not enforce a newly enacted state law that restricts local police cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The statement was made at 10:30 a.m. UTC on August 24, 2026, and confirmed that both officials intend to maintain current practices rather than comply with the new statutory limits.
The state legislation, passed earlier this year, is designed to curb the ability of local law‑enforcement agencies to assist federal immigration authorities. It specifies that municipalities and counties must limit their involvement in ICE investigations and detentions. Rensselaer County’s leadership, however, indicated that they will continue existing protocols, citing their own assessment of the law’s impact on local operations.
McLaughlin and Dinardo’s decision comes as New York State implements a broader policy shift aimed at reducing the role of local police in immigration enforcement. The county’s refusal to adopt the mandated changes places it among the jurisdictions that have publicly expressed opposition to the state‑wide mandate.
No further details were provided regarding how the county will handle future requests from ICE or whether any legal challenges are anticipated. The announcement underscores a continuing debate within the state about the balance between state directives and local autonomy in policing matters.
Rensselaer County officials have not indicated any immediate changes to day‑to‑day law‑enforcement activities beyond the decision not to adopt the new restrictions. The situation adds to the evolving landscape of immigration policy enforcement across New York, where local authorities are navigating newly imposed state requirements.