Nassau County Executive confirms cooperation with ICE for migrant enforcement
NEW YORK (PIX11) – PIX11 News has learned that the Nassau County Police and the Sheriff’s Department are fully cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
“Nassau County Police and Sheriff’s Departments are fully cooperating with ICE and other federal agencies to round up illegal migrants, starting with the worst offenders first,” Blakeman said in a statement.
The announcement comes days after the Trump administration discarded policies limiting migrant arrests at sensitive locations like churches. This significant policy reversal has raised concerns about the potential impact on the community, as it allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection to carry out immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported conducting 593 arrests nationwide on Friday alone, detaining 449 people, including a U.S. military veteran who was among the people arrested in Newark, N.J.
The NYPD says its members are prohibited from participating in civil immigration enforcement.
The white house has said ICE is targeting operations focused on those who have committed crimes. ICE adds that targeted enforcement operations are planned arrests of known criminal aliens who threaten national security or public safety.
The Nassau County Sheriff's Department and the Nassau County Police Department were not immediately able to comment.
This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.