In dramatic footage that went viral on social media, hundreds of residents packed Rockland County’s Government Center in New City on February 3, 2026, protesting a draft Democratic-led proposal, the so-called “Safety and Dignity for All Act,” sponsored by Legislator Beth Davidson, to limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE.
For context, the bill, not yet publicly released in full, sparked bipartisan backlash over public safety concerns, and it was pulled from the agenda after discussion, with no public comment allowed until a future hearing. Responding to the uproar, County Executive Ed Day called it “a solution looking for a problem,” praising police for the county’s safety ranking. Likewise, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) hailed the withdrawal as a victory against “lawlessness.”
