Long Island town renews controversial contract allowing ICE to use taxpayer-funded shooting range

Islip has extended its controversial partnership with ICE, allowing agents to continue to train at a taxpayer-funded gun range in the Long Island town.The deal — renewed in a 4-1 vote by the GOP-majority town council last week — has been in place for roughly two decades and lets dozens of federal agencies such as ICE, along with state and local groups, train at the town-owned shooting range in Suffolk County.New language was included in the resolution that limits ICE’s usage of the facility, although the site does not appear to have been employed for such purposes anyways — leaving critics fuming.The new language specifies that the range “shall not be used for detention, confinement, processing, transportation, housing, administrative operations, or any other non-training governmental purpose,” according to the Islip Town Board.Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter added in a statement, “The resolution is to authorize Department of Homeland Security law enforcement officials to utilize the Town’s gun range for firearms qualification and training purposes only.”But Islip Democrat and state Assemblyman Phil Ramos raged in a statement, “I am extremely disappointed that the Town of Islip chose to renew this agreement despite overwhelming concerns from residents, advocates, and community leaders.“When local government provides facilities, resources, and support to an agency that has caused fear, family separation, and serious civil rights concerns in immigrant communities, it can no longer be dismissed as a routine administrative matter.”The town’s contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement first stirred controversy in July when ICE agents were spotted using the facility, infuriating foes who are part of a nationwide call to curb the agency amid alleged widespread abuses.Carpenter responded at the time, “The Town’s Rifle Range is one of the very few such facilities on Long Island and serves a vital role in the training of individuals...