Local activists are doubling down on their efforts to end Orange County Jail’s agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as new state laws prohibiting local cooperation with ICE go into effect and a new federal lease in Newburgh raises concerns.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul passed sweeping immigration legislation earlier this year, including the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, as part of this year’s state budget. The new state law effectively voids any agreements between local correctional facilities housing individuals detained by ICE effective Aug. 25.
That includes Orange County Jail’s contract with ICE, which has served as an immigration detention facility since 2008.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and New York have both filed lawsuits against each other in June, with the DOJ arguing the state law interferes with federal operations while Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James claiming it has a sovereign right under the Tenth Amendment to enact laws that protect public safety.
Vanessa Cid, organizer for advocacy nonprofit For the Many, said that some families with loved ones detained by ICE at the Orange County Jail have reported being moved around to different facilities since the state law was passed.
“Many people don’t know where their families are. It’s been very difficult to help them [or] locate them. The other ongoing issue is that some people don’t automatically update in the system, so we have weeks, sometimes even months, to be able to locate families and get them their legal representation.”
Cid is part of a broader community coalition to demand Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus to end the county’s contract with ICE.
“Our demands have been – and always will be – to make sure that we’re ending all agreements between local law enforcement and ICE and ensuring that people are being released and [allowed] their due process,” said Cid.
The coalition held a rally in April to challenge the long-standing county contract and includes For the Many, Mid-Hudson Valley and Lower Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists of America chapters, Fuerza Newburgh, and others.
READ: Advocates Push to End Orange County Jail’s Contract with ICE
Radio Catskill reached out to Orange County Government and Orange County Sheriff’s Office for comment but did not hear back ahead of publication.
The coalition’s efforts comes as the federal government has leased a 42,377-square-foot warehouse in Newburgh. While it’s unclear the purpose of the warehouse lease, some federal records suggest it could be for ICE.
READ: Federal Government Leases Newburgh Warehouse for $35.5 Million, Records Suggest ICE Activity
U.S. Representative Pat Ryan, who represents the 18th Congressional District encompassing the Hudson Valley, staunchly opposed opposed any growing ICE presence in the region.
“The Hudson Valley is no stranger to these kinds of back-door deals by the Trump Administration and DHS to try to move ICE into our community, terrorize our neighbors, and make us all less safe.” said Congressman Pat Ryan in a statement. “That means NO ICE in Chester, NO ICE in Newburgh, NO ICE ANYWHERE in the Hudson Valley. Our community is again coming together with one voice to make crystal clear: if the Administration thinks they can quietly build this without the force of our community fighting back, they’ve got another thing coming.”
Image: City of Newburgh Councilmember Giselle Martinez speak at an anti-ICE rally in Goshen, New York on April 12, 2026 (Photo Credit: Mid-Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists of America)