The legal observers, drawn from volunteers in the attorney general's office, will not interfere with enforcement actions.
The observers, wearing purple vests, could be sent to where immigration raids are unfolding to serve as "neutral witnesses on the ground."
"We have seen in Minnesota how quickly and tragically federal operations can escalate in the absence of transparency and accountability," said New York Attorney General Letitia James. "My office is launching the Legal Observation Project to examine federal enforcement activity in New York and whether it remains within the bounds of the law."
The legal observers are meant to compile independent records of ICE conduct in the state that could, where potential violations occur, assist the attorney general's office in any litigation.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill recently encouraged residents to record ICE activities and upload them to a webpage to be built.
But the New York initiative will be the first time an attorney general's office will staff lawyers and other state employees to provide real-time response to ICE actions.
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