Nassau County is on the brink of implementing a controversial partnership that would allow local police to function as agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The initiative, led by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, aims to deputize 10 detectives to assist in immigration enforcement operations. Although the county has faced opposition—including a lawsuit from the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)—Blakeman remains committed to advancing the program, stating that the community supports the removal of individuals deemed criminals.
Training for selected officers has already been completed, and they are ready to engage with ICE once federal approval is granted. However, direct collaboration has not yet occurred; Nassau police have only transferred individuals to ICE after identifying them as undocumented during unrelated arrests. This preliminary interaction indicates that preparations are in place, with police expressing readiness to act when called upon by federal authorities.
Blakeman publicly announced the partnership earlier this year, positioning Nassau County to become the largest police force nationally working under ICE’s 287(g) Program. This partnership faces significant criticism, particularly from civil rights advocates like the NYCLU, which argues that the collaboration undermines state laws protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. Their lawsuit asserts that local law enforcement lacks the legal authority to detain individuals for immigration offenses on ICE’s behalf, a situation fans fear could lead to increased racial profiling.
Legal challenges to the partnership reference a 2018 state court ruling, which deemed it illegal for local police to assist in ICE operations. Despite this backdrop, Blakeman’s announcement was made shortly after President Trump took office again, signaling a shift toward local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Notably, the governor of New York, Letitia James, advised against such partnerships amid protests across Long Island advocating for immigrant rights and an end to collaboration with federal agents.
Meanwhile, the agreement remains in limbo as Nassau County awaits confirmation from ICE. If the partnership launches, it faces substantial scrutiny due to New York’s status as a sanctuary state, where laws designed to protect immigrants from deportation conflicts with ICE’s mandates. The potential implications of the program raise concerns among civil society groups and local residents, who fear increases in policing practices targeting immigrant communities.
As Nassau County teeters on the edge of a transformative policy, the national discourse surrounding immigration enforcement intensifies. With its fate resting on federal approval and encumbered by legal questions, the situation highlights the continuing tensions between local law enforcement policies and federal immigration laws, where community safety and civil liberties collide.
