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The Ulster County Legislature in Kingston is set to make permanent a longstanding executive order that governs interactions with federal immigration officials. Legislature Chairman Peter Criswell announced the resolution, which seeks to protect constitutional rights and ensure clarity in county government operations.
Key provisions of the resolution include requiring a judicial warrant for federal immigration authorities to access non-public areas of county facilities, limiting information sharing, and prohibiting the use of county property as staging areas for immigration enforcement activities. The resolution applies only to county employees and county-controlled properties, and it does not interfere with lawful federal law enforcement activities or the county sheriff's operations.
The resolution, co-signed by all 18 Democratic legislators, does not extend to the Ulster County Jail or facilities under the sheriff’s exclusive control. Criswell emphasized the importance of maintaining protections that have been effective for the past five years. The resolution aligns with policies enacted by former County Executive Pat Ryan and Sheriff Juan Figueroa in 2019, which limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.
The proposed policy will be reviewed by legislative committees in April. It comes amid national discussions on immigration enforcement and aims to provide clear guidance for county employees while respecting individual rights.