Micah Jonah
February 4, 2026
New York State has announced plans to deploy a team of legal observers to monitor, document immigration enforcement actions carried out by the administration of United States President, Donald Trump.
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, said the observers will be volunteer employees from her office who will be trained to observe federal operations without interfering. The observers will wear purple vests and record whether immigration enforcement activities remain within the bounds of the law.
According to James, the move is aimed at protecting constitutional rights, including the rights to peaceful protest, free speech and freedom from unlawful federal action. She cited recent incidents in Minnesota, where immigration enforcement operations escalated into violent confrontations, as a reason for the new initiative.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security criticised the plan, accusing New York officials of putting residents at risk by failing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A DHS spokesperson said federal officers would not need to operate so aggressively if state and local authorities worked with them.
President Trump has defended his deportation strategy, linking it to crime reduction, although critics argue that available crime data does not support the claim. His administration has focused intensified enforcement efforts on states governed by political opponents, including Minnesota, Illinois and California.
In Minneapolis, immigration operations have sparked widespread protests, with residents recording agents in military style gear and accusing them of rights violations. Two U.S. citizens were killed during protests in January, heightening tensions between federal authorities and local leaders.
Legal observers are commonly seen at protests in New York, often affiliated with civil rights groups, this marks the first time the state government itself is formally organizing observers to monitor federal law enforcement. James said information gathered by the observers could be used to determine whether legal action against the federal government is necessary.
