LI Town Says Police Won't Detain Anyone Over Immigration Status

RIVERHEAD, NY — Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard released a statement Friday stating that despite recent federal executive actions, police will not detain anyone for suspected violations of immigration laws.

"The Riverhead Police Department enforces state and local laws and is tasked with maintaining public safety," Hubbard said. "Immigration enforcement and related issues are purely federal functions and are administered by federal agencies. The Riverhead Police Department has previously established policies relating to communication and cooperation with federal agencies."

Hubbard added 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 will 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 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, "strives to provide professional services to the community and maintain equal treatment and equal enforcement of the law to the community."

The statement comes 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.