NY Attorney General probes sheriff's calls to Border Patrol over language barriers
The Oswego County Sheriff’s Office is facing scrutiny after repeated calls to Border Patrol during routine traffic stops. Between January and September 2024, deputies contacted federal immigration agents at least a dozen times when drivers spoke no English. These actions have now triggered an investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s office. One incident in January 2025 involved a sheriff’s deputy pulling over a Spanish-speaking driver. Unable to communicate, the deputy phoned a Border Patrol agent and read the driver’s passport details over the phone. Within half an hour, Border Patrol arrived and arrested both the driver and passenger.
At least eight people have been detained through such collaborations. The practice continues despite a 2018 state appellate court ruling that bars local police from detaining individuals for civil immigration offences without a warrant.
Immigrant rights groups are now campaigning for the New York for All Act, which would prohibit informal cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents unless a judicial warrant exists. Governor Kathy Hochul, however, has only supported banning formal agreements between ICE and local police. The Attorney General’s investigation will examine whether the sheriff’s office violated state law by assisting Border Patrol without proper authorisation. The outcome could affect how local agencies interact with federal immigration enforcement in the future. Advocates continue to demand stricter limits on such cooperation.
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