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State Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a misconduct probe of a New York local law enforcement agency helping the Trump administration crack down on illegal immigration, The Post has learned.

The AG’s office asked Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton for documents outlining any cooperation between local law enforcement officials and federal agencies, including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security.


  Letitia James is conducting a sweeping misconduct probe of New York local law enforcement authorities who may be helping the Trump administration crack down on illegal immigration, The Post has learned. Robert Miller Letitia James is conducting a sweeping misconduct probe of New York local law enforcement authorities who may be helping the Trump administration crack down on illegal immigration, The Post has learned. Robert Miller

A letter from the office asked Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton to turn over any agreements between the office and any federal agency “concerning the enforcement of federal immigration law” – and it also asks for documentation about cops receiving training on enforcing federal immigration.

The letter cited a section of state law on official misconduct — and asked for any training on immigration enforcement and a list of all traffic stops involving the office.

“Attorney General is conducting an investigation pursuant to New York Executive Law § 75(3) and has reasonable cause to believe that the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office has information relevant to that investigation,” Lillian Marquez, deputy bureau chief of the AG’s Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office, wrote in the June 11 letter obtained by The Post.

The AG demands that the sheriff turn over any documents or information about ICE detainer requests and the detection, apprehension, or detention of people who have “allegedly violated immigration law.”

All communications between or among any member of the sheriff’s office and any member of Homeland Security or its sub agencies — including CBP, and ICE at traffic stops is also requested.

A spokesperson for the AG’s office said The Post’s initial article on the letter “missed important facts,” including the focus its document request.


  A child attempts to embrace her father as he is escorted by federal agents with other detainees to vehicles after exiting an Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office on June 04, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images A child attempts to embrace her father as he is escorted by federal agents with other detainees to vehicles after exiting an Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office on June 04, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images

“The Office of the Attorney General does not ‘target’ New York counties for cooperating with the federal government; the Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office reviews matters concerning potential violations of New Yorkers’ civil rights,” the spokesperson said. “It is wrong to inaccurately speculate about our office’s ongoing work with local law enforcement – especially when coming from extremist politicians with partisan agendas.”

The office received and investigates corruption allegations, including claims of excessive force, fraud or criminal activity. Oswego has seen several high-profile federal immigration raids and it wasn’t immediately clear if there had been formal complaints of civil rights violations.

New York State is under an executive order — signed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2017 and continued by Gov. Kathy Hochul — that restricts or bars law enforcement from aiding in investigating, arresting or deporting illegal immigrants.

“Law enforcement officers have no authority to take any police action solely because the person is an undocumented alien,” the Sept. 15, 2017, order said.


  Joaquin Rosario (in white shirt), 34, from the Dominican Republic, is detained by plainclothes officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his court hearing in a hallway outside of a courtroom at New York-Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York City. AFP via Getty Images Joaquin Rosario (in white shirt), 34, from the Dominican Republic, is detained by plainclothes officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his court hearing in a hallway outside of a courtroom at New York-Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York City. AFP via Getty Images

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office received a similar letter earlier this year over reports that it was involved in the “enforcement of federal civil immigration law.”

Sources familiar with the letter told The Post more counties will likely be targeted in the coming days by James but insiders said no other counties will receive letters similar in scope to Oswego.

Upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik, who grilled Hochul over New York’s sanctuary policies during a fiery congressional committee hearing last week, blasted James for declaring a “war against law enforcement.”

“Kathy Hochul and Tish James’ New York is illegals first, New Yorkers last,” Stefanik, who is mulling a run for governor next year, told The Post.

“This is a continuation of Kathy Hochul and NY Democrats’ war against law enforcement. Just last week, Kathy Hochul embarrassed all New Yorkers when she was unaware of the violent crimes committed by illegals against New Yorkers including being burned alive, raped, and molested.”

Stefanik said she stands behind “President Trump, federal law enforcement, and our County Sheriffs who are working every day to restore law and order in our communities, fulfilling their constitutional oaths.”

James’ probe of New York law enforcement agencies over assisting the feds in enforcing immigration law comes as Trump’s Justice Department is investigating her for alleged mortgage fraud in her private real estate dealing. She denied the claims as nothing more than political retribution.

A top official with the US Department of Homeland Security called AG James’ move to probe the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office for misconduct for working with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement “unbelievable.”.

“It’s unbelievable. They have so many issues right now in New York City… It has been flooded with illegal immigrants [because of its] sanctuary city policy so that we cannot get these child molesters, get these rapists, get these convicted murderers, get these gang members out of the city,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said on WABC 770 AM’s Cats & Cosby show Monday night.

“For her to spend her time and resources and New York taxpayer dollars on this is absolutely ridiculous,” she told co-host Rita Cosby, who conducted the interview.

 “All of this speaks to a broader theme we’ve seen go on with Democrats. So many of them are just rudderless. They don’t have a message, and they’re doubling down on everything that they lost on in 2024 [including] mass illegal immigration. We see Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass continuing to fight for it, saying that they’re not going to end these riots until we stop doing ICE raids, which, of course … we’re not going to stop,” she said, referring to the California governor and Los Angeles mayor.

“And now you’re seeing it with Leticia James.”

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