Exclusive | Long Island doubles down on anti-sanctuary stance, top cop pledges to work with ICE: They have a job to do
Long Island officials are doubling down on their anti-sanctuary stance and pledging to help federal immigration authorities — in stark contrast to several other municipalities across the country.Cops and elected officials pledged that Nassau and Suffolk counties aren’t and wouldn’t be sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants, brushing off calls from activists pushing back on what they claim is overreach from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a massive crackdown on illegal immigration.“They have a job to do, and we are going to support them the same way we support the DEA or the FBI chasing terrorists,” Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder told The Post.Police in both counties said they would only assist ICE when directly called upon — which has not happened so far — but said they wouldn’t hesitate to help, while vowing there would be no raids at schools, hospitals or churches.President Trump has announced the national crackdown will target major cities and Democratic-controlled governments with sanctuary policies on the books.The comments come as activists have pushed back on the Trump administration’s hardline stance on illegal immigration, and launched a series of protests against the crackdown.“We have spoken to ICE and they’re on board with us,” Ryder said.
“We will not go into a house of worship, we will not go into a school, and we will not go into a hospital.We also do not ask the immigration status of any victim or any witness, we don’t do that, that’s our policy in Nassau County.” “Long Island is not a sanctuary county and will not become one,” a Suffolk County spokesperson said. Suffolk County officials said they’re following the same protocols — and standing by them, despite a $60 million court ruling earlier this year tied to their past work with ICE.A judge ruled Suffolk violated state law and the Fourth Amendment by holding hundreds of immigrants past their release dates at ICE’s request betwe...