New York, NY (May 28, 2026)

A Republican-led House committee has opened an investigation into several New York City officials over local policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, escalating a broader fight between Washington and sanctuary jurisdictions.

The House Judiciary Committee sent records requests to all five city district attorneys, along with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards. The letters seek documents and communications related to how city agencies handle requests from federal immigration authorities, including detainers issued by ICE.

Committee leaders say New York’s policies have prevented federal agents from taking custody of individuals who were already in local criminal custody. They pointed to city correction data from July 2022 through June 2025, alleging that fewer than 4% of ICE detainers were honored during that period and that nearly 1,000 requests involving criminal defendants were declined. ([New York Post][1])

The inquiry also focuses on limits governing NYPD cooperation with immigration authorities. Under city rules, police generally may not honor an immigration detainer unless it is backed by a judicial warrant and involves a person convicted of a serious or violent crime, or someone flagged in a terrorism database. ([New York Post][1])

Republican lawmakers argue that those restrictions endanger public safety and interfere with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. They also criticized prosecutorial policies they say may reduce immigration consequences for certain defendants.

Supporters of New York’s sanctuary laws maintain that the policies protect constitutional rights, encourage immigrant communities to report crimes, and preserve trust between residents and local agencies. Civil liberties advocates have argued that local police should not be turned into immigration agents and that cooperation with federal detainers must remain limited by due process safeguards. ([New York City Bar Association][2])

The city officials have been asked to provide records by June 10. Similar congressional requests have also been sent to officials in other cities as House Republicans continue pressing local governments over immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies.

[1]: https://nypost.com/2026/05/27/us-news/house-judiciary-committee-launches-investigation-of-tisch-bragg-over-sanctuary-laws/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “House Judiciary Committee launches investigation of Tisch, Bragg and other NYC officials over sanctuary laws”
[2]: https://www.nycbar.org/reports/testimony-on-sanctuary-protections-for-immigrant-communities/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Testimony on Sanctuary Protections for Immigrant Communities”