LI Officials Issue Statement Clarifying Stance On Federal Deportation

RIVERHEAD, NY — Riverhead officials released a new statement recently, clarifying the town's stance on federal deportation efforts.

The original statement from Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard and the board, issued in late January, stated that, despite recent federal executive actions, police would not detain anyone for suspected violations of immigration laws.

Hubbard then issued a second statement less than a week later: "In view of the confusion and misinformation following" Hubbard's press release, "it has become necessary to provide the following points of clarification," the statement read.

"The Town of Riverhead stands firmly behind the new immigration policies set forth by the Trump administration. Immigration, however, remains a federal matter, handled by the appropriate federal agencies — not the Riverhead Police Department. In fact, neither immigration enforcement no deportation proceedings are legally permissible functions of the Riverhead Police Department, unless there are criminal charges pending."

The statement also read: "As has always been the case, in the event the Riverhead Police Department is asked by a federal agency to provide support or assistance in their efforts, they will do so. It is simple: The Town of Riverhead and the Riverhead Police Department will not obstruct the federal government's efforts to address immigration."

In the earlier statement, Hubbard had said that it has, and has been, the policy of the Riverhead Police Department that "police personnel will not stop, question and/or interrogate or investigate, or arrest persons based solely on suspected immigration or citizenship status and will not detain any individual for suspected civil violations of federal immigration laws or a related civil warrant. Such investigations or actions are federal functions and will be pursued by relevant federal agencies," he said.

Consistent with established policy, an arrestee would not be detained pursuant to a detainer request or administrative warrant and detention for criminal immigration violations shall only occur pursuant to a duly issued judicial warrant, Hubbard added.

Further, he said, the Riverhead Police Department may field requests for local agency assistance in connection with federal immigration operations within the town.

"Such assistance, consistent with policy, would be limited in scope to support services such as traffic control or peacekeeping effort," he said in the first statement. "In sum, while recent federal executive actions have directed greater or enhanced enforcement of certain federal immigration laws, those enforcement efforts remain federal agency functions. The town police policies described above are consistent with federal and state laws, and it is not the town’s intention to alter such policies in response to recent federal executive actions."

The Riverhead Town Police Department, Hubbard said in his first statement, "strives to provide professional services to the community and maintain equal treatment and equal enforcement of the law to the community."

That first statement came after the Riverhead Central School district also outlined steps being taken to keep students safe, in light of threats of mass deportation.

"The Riverhead School District will always stand in defiance of any initiative, regardless of its source, that threatens the safety and well-being of any of our students. We will continue to advocate for our students and defend their absolute right to an education free from harassment, intimidation, or fear-mongering. It is our sacred vow to ensure that every child in our care feels safe, supported, and respected," district officials said.