Following the recent arrest of 225 people across New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is warning that the state will take legal action to stop the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Cuomo sent a cease and desist letter to ICE on Wednesday. And he also signed an executive order barring ICE from making arrests in state buildings without valid judicial warrants. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says, he'll comply with the governor's order if there's a problem.
Flynn says, ICE's practices can effect local law enforcement when the local immigrant community fears the police.
"They fear coming forward with information. If I have a homicide that occurs in an area where a lot of immigrants live I need their help for witnesses, something they might have seen or not seen." Flynn says, fortunately there has not been any problems locally.
ICE's Acting Director, Thomas Homan, blasted Cuomo and said his agency would not "cease and desist" from fulfilling its "mandated mission." According to ICE, most of the people arrested were convicted criminals or had criminal charges pending.