ICE Agents Reportedly Spotted Again In Westhampton, Hampton Bays

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS, NY — ICE agents were reportedly spotted in Hampton Bays and Westhampton again Tuesday.

Photos taken by bystanders show the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents in a parking lot; it was not immediately clear if any individuals were detained.

ICE did not return a request for comment and Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan said he was not aware of any ICE activity in Hampton Bays or Westhampton early Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, protesters who have been out raising their voices against ICE announced another rally, to be held Friday.

The "ICE Out of Hampton Bays" event will be held on Friday, December 19 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at 106 Ponquogue Avenue in Hampton Bays, across from the fire department.

"Stand up for our neighbors," Boyer said.

Recently, the community has come together in support of a postal worker, Tamara Mayorga-Wong, who was arrested after trying to help someone escape, after he was detained by ICE in Westhampton recently during a federal immigration removal proceeding.

A GoFundMe page, "Support Our Community Member Tamara Mayorga-Wong," was created by Boyer.

Community members also spoke out: "Tamara is what it truly means to be part of a community," resident Dawn Manzi said. "She brings warmth, reliability, and genuine care to every doorstep she visits. Her presence reminds us that small acts done with heart can bring a whole community together."

"I am sure that this incident unfolded as follows: Tamara exited the post office, and, on the spur of the moment, rose up to protest injustice," said Abigail S. Moore. "What a human being, with all the right values!"

According to a complaint filed by the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Tamara Mayorga-Wong, 57, of Westhampton Beach, appeared in Central Islip federal court recently before Magistrate Judge Anne Shields; she was charged with obstructing the due and proper procedure of the law, the complaint said.

The incident took place during recent U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids in Westhampton and Hampton Bays on November 5, officials said. The incident in question took place in front of the 7-Eleven on Mill Road in Westhampton, next to the Westhampton post office, federal officials said.

According to the complaint and affidavit in support of an application for an arrest warrant, Mayorga-Wong, "together with others, did knowingly and intentionally corruptly influence, obstruct and impede, and endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede, the due and proper administration of the law under which a pending proceeding was being had before a department and agency of the United States, to wit: a federal immigration removal proceeding before the DHS."

On November 5, during an official enforcement operation being conducted in Westhampton, Mayorga-Wong "obstructed and impeded the due and proper administration of the law by facilitating the escape of" a man described in the complaint as John Doe, for whom a warrant for removal proceedings before the Department of Homeland Security had been issued, the complaint said.

During the administrative arrest, when John Doe was being placed in handcuffs, Mayorga-Wong, who was wearing a United States Postal Service mail carrier uniform, was seen exiting the post office and approaching law enforcement officers and the individual, the complaint said.

She demanded to see his arrest warrant and said, "You can't do this," the complaint said.The deportation officer responded, in substance, that Mayorga-Wong "was welcome to see John Doe's arrest warrant, at ICE-ERO's office, and provided the address of 535 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, New York," the complaint said.

John Doe was then placed in the backseat of a law enforcement vehicle, and the arresting officers entered the front of that vehicle and prepared to drive away, federal officials said.

Mayorga-Wong was then seen running to the rear passenger side of the vehicle, where the detainee was seated, and opening the door, federal officials said. She was then heard instructing John Doe to flee, in Spanish, federal officials said.

In response, John Doe exited the vehicle and proceeded to run away; law enforcement officers pursued John Doe, and John Doe was again apprehended and detained, federal officials said.

Following the re-apprehension of John Doe, Mayorga-Wong was seen returning to the Westhampton Post Office; law enforcement officers then observed her entering her personal vehicle, which was parked in the rear employee parking lot of the Westhampton Post Office, lock herself in, and attempt to drive away, the complaint said.

Law enforcement officers blocked the exit with an official vehicle, informed her, in both English and Spanish, that she was under arrest, and repeatedly instructed her to step out of her vehicle — commands she refused to obey, the complaint said. After several minutes of administering verbal commands, to no avail, law enforcement officers removed Mayorga-Wong from her vehicle, in order to place her under arrest, federal officials said.

While she was being removed from her vehicle, she resisted arrest by, among other things, kicking the law enforcement officers and flailing her arms, the complaint said.

Once she was restrained, law enforcement officers read her Miranda rights; Mayorga-Wong refused to speak with law enforcement, federal officials said. She was then taken in a law enforcement vehicle to the Southampton Police Department headquarters, in Hampton Bays, for arrest processing, the complaint said.

During her transport, she "spontaneously made statements to the law enforcement officers who were in the vehicle. In substance and in part, according to a deportation officer who is fluent in both English and Spanish, Mayorga-Wong stated repeatedly, in both Spanish and English, 'Why are you doing this to your people?' and further, inquired whether the officers were from Mexico, and whether they had children, then stating, 'What are you going to tell your children about what you do?'" the complaint said.

Protestors outraged over ICE raids on the East End have been speaking out and have gathered numerous times.

The goal, she said, Boyer, who has organized the protests, said, is to "stand up for our neighbors and friends. Demand due process. Urge our reps and civil servants to take a strong stance. Meet super cool people and build community."

Prior protests have been held in Greenport, East Hampton, Westhampton and Hampton Bays.

When asked why she'd organized the events, Boyer quoted Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA of Eastern Long Island, a Latino advocacy organization. Perez, she said, "said it best — our community deserves to be protected by everyone and to say, 'Well, we can't do that,' is not enough. We need strong, brave and vocal leaders who are willing to stand up and protect everyone and not simply follow orders."

In Hampton Bays, waving signs that read, "No Human Is Illegal," "Families Belong Together, Stop Raids!" and "Fire and ICE Do Not Mix!" a crowd of about 100 gathered in Hampton Bays to speak out about ICE raids in the area.

Boyer, who organized all the protests, spoke to Patch after the event: "I am so grateful to everyone who came out to join us, everyone who shared the info, everyone who honked, and someone even brought us coffee!" she said. "We will keep doing it until ICE hears us! We do not approve of you taking our neighbors and family and friends. We do not approve of you using our volunteer fire department as a staging area! That space is for community support — not inciting terror like you do when you come."

She added: "We stand with our immigrant neighbors and will keep showing up because we are better together!"

The protests have followed many outraged residents turning to social media to express their concerns after the surge of ICE activity in Westhampton Beach and Hampton Bays on Wednesday, November 5.

Large, unmarked SUVs in dark and silver colors were seen at multiple locations, including 7-Eleven in Westhampton Beach and the King Kullen parking lot in Hampton Bays.

According to Perez, it is believed that about six or seven individuals were detained and arrested in the Hampton Bays area and, possibly, four in Westhampton Beach.

Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan spoke with Patch after ICE was seen in Hampton Bays and Westhampton Beach in November. "ICE did have a presence in the town," he said.

According to Kiernan, the Southampton Town Police Department "was not aware of the activity prior to it starting but became involved when ICE agents called an ambulance for one of the people arrested that was complaining of difficulty breathing," he said. "It appears as though they came to execute warrants and were out of town by late morning."

Perez confirmed that someone in the Westhampton Beach parking lot was taken to the hospital for treatment, but said the injury was not serious and they were released.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement responded to Patch about who they said was arrested during raids in Westhampton and Hampton Bays Wednesday.

According to an ICE spokesperson, on November 5, "ICE New York City conducted operations targeting known criminal illegal aliens in Westhampton and Hampton Bay, Long Island. ICE officers from the Long Island sub-office arrested 12 illegal aliens, several with criminal convictions and all in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Violating immigration laws is a crime and carries consequences, which includes arrest, detention, and removal from the United States."Among those arrested, ICE said, were:

• Sergio Gonzalez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was previous removed in 2010 and illegally reentered committing a felony, ICE said. Gonzalez’s criminal history includes convictions for robbery and two counts of driving while intoxicated, according to ICE.
• Victor Martinez-Aparicio, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, ICE said.
• Alberto Gil-Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico, was previously removed in 2002 and illegally reentered which is a felony, ICE said. His criminal history includes convictions for assault and harassment, ICE added.
• Victor Hernandez Manual-Sosa, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of driving while intoxicated and multiple charges for larceny, ICE said.

No information or charges were given for the other eight people reportedly detained by ICE and it was not immediately clear if they were charged.

"President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal aliens to walk freely on U.S. streets. ICE will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing alien offenders from the U.S.," an ICE spokesperson said. "Collateral arrests of illegal aliens encountered during targeted enforcement actions are consistent with ICE’s mission to uphold the integrity of our immigration system."

OLA of Eastern Long Island, a Latino advocacy organization, asked people to join them and speak out at the Southampton Town board meeting, held at Southampton Town Hall recently.

At the meeting, a statement from Perez was read: "At the heart of every family is usually a child or an older adult, and we are witnessing firsthand the erosion of everything we knew about public safety from the perspective of children, the elderly, and everyone else," she wrote.

"For 23 years, OLA has worked closely with law enforcement when victims or witnesses of crime needed support to report. We have seen the police act swiftly when they know the perpetrator's whereabouts. They have done a tremendous job keeping Southampton safe. We cannot afford to lose that trust. The idea that another agency — without regard for our municipality's operational structure — can take away our community members without any report or consequences is unacceptable."

She added: "Hearing the phrase 'there's not much we can do' is not enough. We need to know what they can do to fulfill their commitment to public safety. If they can identify those arrested who have criminal records, they should also be able to identify all those arrested who have no criminal history."And, she said: "A word of caution to us all: If we shout from our glass-walled balconies that we're grateful the offenders were removed, we'd better know that there isn't a single person among us or in our families who is without fault. It's very slippery ground to measure a person's moral integrity with a yardstick none of us can meet. Calls to 911 should never include a pause, for fear that the masked men doing the dirty work are receiving handshakes and welcomes from local authorities."

She added: "If these men are required to wear masks, we need to know if they also work for local East End government agencies with access to data. Where are the written contracts with full names and guarantees? If the fire department leadership didn't want ICE present, where is the subsequent letter denouncing the illegal appropriation of property, in violation of the Tenth Amendment? Why wasn't the entire fire department standing with the peaceful protesters? We can't have two voices and expect good results. We must stand with our community as it is, with all our heart and strength."

The ICE activity has sparked discontent and unease in the bucolic East End communities.

One resident told Patch that parents in the Westhampton Beach area were concerned about students going to and from school in the area of the Mill Road 7-Eleven, which, she said, was "swarmed."

Kristina Gale said, of the ICE raid in Hampton Bays: "It was a large, unexpected operation in a public place and people were concerned. What bothered me was that none of the agents seemed to show any clear ID — just tactical gear and generic ‘Police’ patches. Since anyone can buy that online, it’s important for the community to know who’s actually involved when something this intense happens."

Another resident voiced her thoughts about the ICE activity: "Today my heart was broken, truly broken, to know that ICE was in my community reounding up people," said Marion Boden of Hampton Bays. "My neighbors. People I have grown to love over the years. I saw a video in which two women were scampering like frightened hunted human beings. We are all God's children and deserve to be treated with dignity."

"I'm furious," Boyer wrote.