Written by Mathew Silverman, National President, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association – Board of Advisors, Law Enforcement Today
A new piece of legislation currently advancing through the New York State Legislature—the so-called Safe Air Act—would prohibit state agencies and public benefit corporations from contracting with airlines that transport detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), unless those transports are backed by a judicial warrant and specific due process assurances. According to the New York State Senate, this measure leverages the state’s control over contracts and tax benefits to “uphold constitutional rights.”
This bill is the latest in a growing trend of state-level efforts to undermine cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. What’s striking is the irony: many of the same critics who condemned the federal administration for threatening to withhold funding from states that refused to cooperate with ICE are now embracing that very same tactic—only in reverse. The method is identical: using financial leverage to enforce a political agenda. The only difference is the target.
Let me be clear—this is not about politics. I’m not here to debate party lines or political ideologies. I’m here to speak for the men and women in uniform—at the federal, state, and local levels—who risk their lives every day to protect our communities.
Effective law enforcement depends on interagency cooperation. We cannot do this job in silos. Public safety demands that local, state, and federal agencies work together seamlessly. When states pass laws that intentionally sever ties with federal law enforcement, they don’t just hinder operations—they jeopardize the safety of the very people they claim to protect. These policies don’t uphold justice; they obstruct it.
Federal law enforcement officers are not the enemy. We are professionals upholding the law, often under challenging and dangerous conditions. What we need is support—not political posturing or roadblocks. Public safety should never be used as a bargaining chip.
Bringing corporate America into this standoff—by penalizing airlines that cooperate with federal law enforcement—serves only one purpose: to weaken our collective ability to protect our communities. It may score political points, but it compromises public safety.
I understand not everyone supports law enforcement. I know some people distrust us because we wear a badge, a uniform, and a gun. But we are not the villains in this story. We are the ones who run toward danger while others run away. We put our lives on the line—not just for those who support us, but for strangers we’ve never met. That is the oath we’ve taken.
Yes, like every profession, law enforcement has its bad actors. But don’t let the actions of a few define the whole. The vast majority of us serve with honor, integrity, and a deep commitment to protecting every member of the public.
We’re not asking for praise. We’re asking for the chance to do our jobs without being hindered by political agendas. Safety and justice should never be casualties of partisanship.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
