New Details Emerge On Plan Giving Police Ok to Arrest, Deport Migrants

MINEOLA, NY — County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced on Tuesday that Nassau police will be granted federal authority to help arrest and deport migrants who are in the country without proper documentation.

"We are going to cross-designate and embed Nassau County police detectives with ICE," Blakeman said.

Ten detectives will immediately join the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program, he said. Asked if the controversial armed citizens as special deputies project would be used as well, "they have nothing to do with this. I do not see a circumstance where they would ever be any part of this," he said.

Last year, Blakeman announced provisional deputy sheriffs would be trained and activated in the event of an emergency.

Blakeman said the purpose of the ICE program in the county is to "pick up targeted illegal migrants who've committed crimes."

The next step, Blakeman said, is detaining them in the county jail in the short term. Thereafter, ICE will "either find a permanent detainment facility or they will simply deport the illegal migrants."

The county executive stressed that this program is "not about raids. It's about targeted enforcement of our laws."

Long Island immigration attorney Nerseh Gehi, founder of Gehi and Associates of Syosset, called the decision a "slap in the face of our justice system."

Gehi said this will "increase racial profiling in the county, giving unfettered discretion to police officers to detain immigrants for trivial or minor crimes."

Reaction was also swift from Garden City-based Family & Children's Association (FCA).

"We’ve provided critical health and human services to Long Islanders for more than 140 years, building trust with people who are often reluctant to call us or come in for help until they are out of other options," FCA President/CEO Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds said. "Asking for help gets infinitely harder if you are worried about being arrested, jailed and booted out of the country. Even when we explain to folks that they are here legally and there’s nothing to worry about, they are skeptical and ask us how we can be so sure. The truth these days is, we don’t."

But Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said, "We are one of the most respectful and professional police departments in the country. Nothing's going to change, but we are going to be respectful in that process."

Blakeman thanked President Trump for giving ICE agents the tools necessary to keep Nassau residents safe.

"Our partnership sends a clear message that ICE and Nassau County stand committed to prioritizing the safety of our public," said Brian Flanagan, ICE acting deputy field office director in New York City.