New York Will Have Legal Observers To Monitor Federal Immigration Agents

New York : New York’s attorney general announced plans Tuesday to appoint legal monitors to monitor federal immigration enforcement actions in the state.

The initiative will send monitors wearing purple safety vests to areas where immigration enforcement activity is reported to collect information that “may shed light on future legal action,” according to Attorney General Letitia James.

Tensions remain high across the country due to President Donald Trump’s aggressive crackdown on immigrants, especially after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by federal agents in Minnesota. Videos of agents carrying out immigration arrests across the country face criticism for heavy-handed tactics and often go viral.

James, a Democrat, said in a statement that he was “proud to protect New Yorkers’ constitutional rights to speak freely, protest peacefully, and live their lives without fear of unlawful federal action.”

“In Minnesota, we saw how quickly and tragically federal operations can escalate in the absence of transparency and accountability,” he said.

James said monitors in his office will serve as “neutral witnesses” who will detect violations of the law but will not interfere with enforcement activities. He also asked New Yorkers to send videos of federal immigration enforcement to his office for review.

Separately, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said this year she would pursue legislation that would allow people to sue federal officers “when they act beyond the scope of their duties” and would introduce a proposal to keep immigration officers out of schools, hospitals and houses of worship unless they get permission from a judge.