Thursday, February 6, 2025
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said today they have agreed to work with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on the deportation of undocumented immigrants in the county.
The county’s police department will dedicate 10 of it’s detectives to train and embed with ICE to assist in deportation initiatives.
This is related to a federal provision giving ICE the authority to delegate local law enforcement officers to perform the functions of immigration officers. According to local officials, Nassau is the first major county in the country that is electing to cross-designate their police officials to work for ICE as well.
"When I first took office, I announced that Nassau County would not be a sanctuary county," said Blakeman. "And as a result, we haven't seen the crime, the lawlessness, that is seen in other parts of the United States, and certainly around here, in the metropolitan area."
This decision will not lead to raids or targeting of individuals, according to officials. Instead, Nassau County police have been authorized to enforce existing federal law and assist in the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activity.
Nassau police will detain arrested immigrants accused of a crime in local jail for 72 hours, before ICE will either incarcerate the person in a federal detainment facility or deport them.
The county will receive federal funding for their participation in this program.
While ICE has always had the ability to request local officers hold someone under arrest in custody for up to 48 hours after their intended release, local police had the option to comply with their request. That option remains but with this agreement, Nassau County has made clear its intention to fully comply with ICE demands.
Blakeman is also granting ICE a permanent presence at the county jail.
