FILE - New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference, Dec. 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
YINEW YORK (AP) — New York's attorney general announced plans Tuesday to deploy legal observers to monitor federal immigration enforcement actions in the state.
The initiative will send observers, who will wear purple safety vests, to areas of reported immigration enforcement activity to collect information “that may inform future legal action,†according to Attorney General .
nationwide over President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown, particularly following the shooting at the hands of federal agents in Minnesota. Videos of agents conducting immigration arrests throughout the country have drawn criticism over heavy-handed tactics, often going viral online.
In a statement, James, a Democrat, said she is “proud to protect New Yorkers’ constitutional rights to speak freely, protest peacefully, and go about their lives without fear of unlawful federal action.â€
“We have seen in Minnesota how quickly and tragically federal operations can escalate in the absence of transparency and accountability," she said.
James said her office's observers will serve as “neutral witnesses†who will identify violations of law, but will not interfere with enforcement activity. She has also asked New Yorkers to submit videos of federal immigration enforcement actions to her office for review.
Separately, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has said she will pursue legislation this year that would allow people to sue federal officers “when they act outside the scope of their duties," along with a proposal to keep immigration agents out of schools, hospitals and houses of worship unless they have a warrant from a judge.
The Associated Press
Canada is entering a new era of nation-building. From clean-energy corridors and c…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
