Support Grows for New York for All Act to Limit Cooperation with Immigration Authorities

Legislation aims to restrict state and local governments from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:48pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone police car parked on a dimly lit city street at night, the vehicle's lights casting a warm glow across the pavement and surrounding buildings, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation about the intersection of local and federal authority.As tensions rise over the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement, a somber scene evokes the complex relationship between community policing and national security priorities.Buffalo Today

Support is growing for the 'New York for All' Act, legislation that would limit state and local governments from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The surge in support comes after the death of Rohingya refugee Nurul Amin Shah Alam, who was dropped off by Border Patrol at a Tim Hortons after being detained, and later found dead. Advocates say the new law would have prevented the Erie County Sheriff's Office from alerting Border Patrol in this case.

Why it matters

The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam has highlighted concerns about the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, and the potential consequences for vulnerable individuals. The New York for All Act aims to address these issues by restricting state and local governments from assisting federal immigration enforcement, which supporters believe will help protect immigrant communities.

The details

The New York for All Act would require a warrant signed by a judge for local authorities to comply with federal immigration detainer requests. Currently, 96 state legislators back the legislation. Erie County agencies, excluding the sheriff's office, are already under a similar policy banning cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Erie County Sheriff's Office says there is nothing new about detainer requests and that they are treated the same way the state prison system has handled them.

  • On February 25, Nurul Amin Shah Alam was found dead near KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
  • Earlier this week, the Erie County Medical Examiner announced that Shah Alam's death was ruled a homicide.

The players

Nurul Amin Shah Alam

A 56-year-old Rohingya refugee who was found dead in Buffalo after being dropped off by Border Patrol at a Tim Hortons.

Jon Rivera

An Assemblyman who supports the New York for All Act, stating that local law enforcement should not be involved in engaging with ICE.

Jeremy Zellner

A State Senator who supports the New York for All Act, stating that the legislation will ensure state and local resources are focused on serving communities, not Donald Trump's political agenda.

Megan Maloney de Zaldivar

The vice president of advocacy for the New York Immigration Coalition, who said the state cannot wait for another death to pass the New York for All Act.

Sean Ryan

The Mayor of Buffalo, who has already signed an executive order banning all city agencies from cooperating with the federal government on immigration enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“We need to separate things now. Local law enforcement should not have been involved the way that they were involved. We know that there's a role for local law enforcement in all our lives, but interfering and engaging with ICE should not be one of them.”

— Jon Rivera, Assemblyman

“This legislation will ensure state and local resources are focused on serving our communities, not Donald Trump's political agenda. I don't have to tell anybody about Mr. Alam, a vulnerable man, nearly blind and unable to speak English, who should never have been left alone without support. His family's suffering and no one should have to go through that.”

— Jeremy Zellner, State Senator

“We cannot wait for another death at the hands of Erie County Sheriff and Border Patrol or any other law enforcement in the state to pass this legislation.”

— Megan Maloney de Zaldivar, Vice President of Advocacy, New York Immigration Coalition

What’s next

The New York for All Act will continue to be considered by the state legislature, with supporters hoping to pass the legislation to limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

The takeaway

The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam has sparked renewed calls for the New York for All Act, which aims to protect immigrant communities by restricting state and local governments from assisting federal immigration enforcement. This case highlights the potential consequences of such cooperation and the need for policies that prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all residents.