Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced on Wednesday that the county would comply with a law banning agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We have reviewed this law with the county attorneys, and we looked for every possible way not to comply with this law," Blakeman said at a news conference. "However, it was concluded that we would have to abide by the law."

Gov. Kathy Hochul said the measure is intended to allow local law enforcement agencies to focus on local crime, rather than assisting federal immigration authorities.

The law ends agreements that allowed some local agencies to work with ICE on civil immigration enforcement matters.

"Again, I'm very clear here for civil immigration enforcement," Hochul said. "This only continues to evoke fear on our streets. And our local cops will not be part of it."

At the press conference Wednesday, Blakeman said the county attorney sent a letter to ICE indicating that the county would comply with the law.