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A New York sheriff is the first in his state to sign up for an ICE program that trains local law enforcement to vet immigration offenders and process them at the federal level.

According to ICE, the program "provides a four-week basic training program and a one-week refresher training program ... conducted by certified instructors."

The program is meant to help local police departments determine a suspect's immigration status and whether they are wanted by ICE for a previous crime.

"We want someone to prevent [an illegal immigrant] from getting out before they're recognized as being wanted," Sheriff Patrick Russo said Wednesday on "Fox & Friends."

"Cooperation amongst police agencies is paramount in providing good public safety."

Russo is a sheriff in Rensselaer County, which is located near Albany, and his decision to participate drew backlash from Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).

"State police agencies do not and will not engage in such activity, and we are troubled that one local sheriff in the state has decided to participate," said Cuomo.

Russo said he believes the matter at hand isn't about politics.

"It's a sensible thing to do, not to turn a criminal back out into the community," he said.

"You're doing a disservice to the community, you're doing a disservice to the law enforcement officers that have to go back out and interact with that person."

Like some California officials, Cuomo and other New York Democrats have been vocal in their defiance of President Trump's immigration crackdown.

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