Immigration advocates and grassroots organizations in New York have condemned Nassau County executive, Bruce Blakeman, over his decision to coordinate with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to deport Caribbean and other immigrants.
In announcing on Tuesday what he described as a “first programme of its kind,” Blakeman said Nassau County Police, in suburban New York City, will “cross-designate” 10 detectives to work with ICE for targeted immigration enforcement.
But, Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella immigration advocacy organization of over 200 groups in New York, criticised Blakeman’s announced agreement with the Trump administration to participate in the deportation programme t
“Immigrants are a vital part of Long Island’s economic life—making up nearly one-third of Nassau County’s workforce and one-third of its small business owners, and contributing to the US$3.1 billion paid annually by New York’s immigrants in state and local taxes,” he said.
“But instead of working for an inclusive Nassau County that prioritises the safety of every resident, County Executive Bruce Blakeman is unnecessarily sowing fear and division amongst our immigrant neighbours and degrading the safety of every Long Islander.”
He said not only does Nassau County’s adoption of the programme undermine public safety and exhaust local resources, deploying local law enforcement to serve as immigration enforcement agents reduces trust in the police and deters immigrants.
Awawdeh said this policy also “enables harmful racial profiling practices that often puts Black and Brown people at risk, including US citizens.”
“This makes us all less safe,” he stated. “Blakeman’s attack on Long Island’s immigrant communities is a stark reminder of what’s at stake for all New Yorkers when we allow our local enforcement to collude with ICE.”
Awawdeh is urging New York State Legislature to pass the New York For All bill this year, “to keep New York’s state and local resources from fuelling Trump and ICE’s cruel agenda, and to ensure the safety of every New York family.”
Make the Road New York, another immigration advocacy group, said:
“Blakeman’s efforts to please the Trump administration by collaborating with ICE do not represent the values of the residents of Nassau County and further promote fear within our immigrant communities.”
“County Executive Blakeman needs to understand that Nassau County’s immigrant communities make significant contributions to our neighbourhoods, schools, churches, businesses and culture,” it said.
“Blakeman needs to stop any collaboration with ICE and Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda,” the statement said, “and start focusing on protecting all the people he was elected to serve.”
“We demand that he immediately rescind this agreement and any other collaboration that targets and criminalizes our immigrant Nassau residents,” Make the Road New York added.
The co-executive director of National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Nadia Marin-Molina said:
“Nassau County’s agreement with ICE is going to make every person in the county less safe, as the immigrant community will be less likely to approach the police and the government to speak out about crime, workplace violations, and other issues.”
“New York State needs to take immediate action to protect everyone in the state by passing NY for All,” she urged.
The vice-chair of the Working Families Party, Nassau County Chapter, Nia Adams, noted: “Nassau County’s decision to further collaborate with ICE is a dangerous and divisive policy that endangers all of our communities, including but not limited to immigrant, Black, and working-class families.”
“This approach to public safety does not make us safer—it sows fear, undermines trust in law enforcement, and perpetuates systemic racism and inequality. The Working Families Party of Nassau County stands firmly against this cruel and unjust policy,” she added.
Joe Sackman, executive director of the Board of Long Island Progressive Coalition (LIPC), said LIPC calls “shame on this overreach of government provisions taking place in Nassau County.”
He noted that Nassau County is the second county in New York State “to use this program of turning local police into ICE agents.”
“Instead of using federal funds to help Long Island families, Blakeman is spreading fear and targeting migrant New Yorkers who work and pay taxes, treating them as criminals. It is not a crime to want a better life and to work hard to feed your family. No human being is illegal,” Sackman added.
Blakeman, a strong supporter of President Trump, told a news conference on Tuesday that Nassau County Police will work with ICE to detain, and eventually deport, targeted undocumented immigrants.
“I wouldn’t characterize it as just violent criminals. If you are a criminal and you are here illegally, then of course the programme will take effect, and we will action,” he said.
ICE Acting Deputy Field Office Director Brian Flanagan also said that “by providing 72-hour bed space, Nassau County will enable ICE to house and transfer of potentially dangerous alien offenders.”
In a statement, the New York Civil Liberties Union noted that most New York counties do not partner with ICE for a reason.
“When local law enforcement act like ICE agents, they take on ICE’s reputation and sow deep distrust within the community. Immigrants become scared to speak to local police and under-report crimes due to fear of deportation—making it harder for officers to do their jobs and making everyone less safe,” it added.
Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of the District of Columbia, and the New York Civil Liberties Union sued the Trump administration over its plan to massively expand fast-track deportations without a fair legal process.
The case, filed in the US District Court in Washington D.C., was filed on behalf of Make the Road New York, which serves Caribbean and other immigrant communities. —NEW YORK (CMC)
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Story by Nelson A. King | Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC)
