Albany Mayor Signs Executive Order Barring ICE From City Property

“Our advocacy organizations have told us the horrific, horrific, horrific stories about families who are scared to go out in our communities for fear of being targeted by ICE,” Mayor Dorcey Applyrs said Thursday.

The Albany mayor signed an executive order prohibiting federal immigration enforcement agencies from using city property for staging, processing, or detention operations, Times Union reported.

The move aims to expand protections for immigrants in the city as residents face rising fears regarding federal enforcement activity. By barring agencies from using municipal land for these specific functions, the administration intends to create a clearer distinction between local law enforcement and federal agents.

The order also requires the city to document federal immigration enforcement activity and establishes a formal response protocol for such actions during public meetings and city-sponsored events. Mayor Applyrs described the decision as “long overdue,” noting that the policy responds to direct concerns from immigrant advocacy groups and local residents.

Addressing gaps in local enforcement restrictions

While Albany County had previously drawn a line regarding ICE operations, the city’s new order addresses a specific regulatory gap. A March resolution by the Albany County Legislature barred agencies under the Department of Homeland Security from using county property as staging areas, but those restrictions did not extend to city- or state-owned land.

Immigrant rights advocates have alleged that federal agents have used public lots in Albany as staging areas, though the Times Union reported these accounts have not been independently verified. The new executive order explicitly closes this loophole by restricting such activity on all municipal property.

The city’s policy also codifies existing practices within the Albany Police Department to prevent public confusion. These include requirements for officers to wear visible badges, utilize body-worn cameras, and clearly identify themselves as members of the local department.

“The dignity and safety of all who live and work in our city remains, as always, my top priority,” said Mayor Dorcey Applyrs.

The human impact of federal enforcement has been a central driver for the order. Mayor Applyrs said that community partners have reported declining attendance at food pantries and city-sponsored gatherings, including summer events related to the World Cup, because families fear being targeted at these locations.

The mayor highlighted the case of a family of four from Ecuador, including two young children, to illustrate how these enforcement activities can disrupt access to essential services. “These activities signal that youth in our city, as well as their families, are not receiving essential services and needs out of fear, is inhumane,” Applyrs said.

Residents and organizers describe impact on the Capital Region

Local residents and organizers have described the scale of the impact on the Capital Region. Tanner Rodan, the New York Immigration Coalition’s manager for organizing and strategy, noted the strain placed on the community by federal efforts.

“We’ve seen hundreds of people funneled into the mass deportation machine right here in the Capital Region,” Rodan said.

Mahesh Jamil, an Albany resident and attorney, described the order as a necessary step to make the city’s commitment to being a sanctuary city more tangible. She cited several instances of enforcement that have unsettled the community, including the detention of a Bangladeshi business owner during a morning school drop-off and members of the Muslim community leaving a mosque on Central Avenue.

Jamil also shared the account of a subcontractor who was detained by ICE on Aug. 10 while walking to his apartment after an overnight bus trip from New York City. As of the announcement of the order, he remained detained and had been denied release on bond.

“To be clear, one executive order alone will not end every fear, prevent every bad action by bad actors at the federal level,” Jamil said. “But it establishes a clear boundary and sends a really important message about the kind of city that Albany intends to be, one that puts its people and dignity first.”

Common Councilmember Alfredo Balarin, representing the 11th District, said the order would help ensure residents feel safe contacting police during emergencies and accessing city resources.

The county’s existing restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol cooperation are currently scheduled to expire on Dec. 31. However, lawmakers introduced a measure earlier this week to extend those restrictions through Jan. 20, 2029.

“Make no mistake: I will not waver when it comes to the protection of human rights,” Applyrs said.

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