Latest news with #IslipForward
CBS News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
As some migrants on Long Island get detained, others turn to a new app tracking ICE sightings
A grassroots organization is using a new tool to alert communities to sightings of federal immigration agents amid an uptick in enforcement on Long Island and President Trump's directive to expand deportation efforts in Democratic-run cities like New York. Ahmad Perez is the founder of Islip Forward, which created an ICE tracker app to keep communities informed of immigration agent sightings in Suffolk County. "That will send a push notification as soon as we verify an ICE sighting in the community," Perez said. App notifies users to reports of ICE agents in the area The app shows where and when apparent ICE agent sightings take place and provides a photo. Recently, notifications were sent for two reports in Brentwood and one in Huntington. "Each time it was agents conducting targeted stops at businesses, at their homes, at places where they should feel safe," Perez said. He said the aim is to alert app users within 10 minutes of a reported sighting. "The folks who are going shopping, getting groceries, going to Target, that's enough time for them to consider going back home and protecting themselves and their family," he said. Since launching in January, the app has been used over 60,000 times, according to Perez. He said it speaks to the fear within the community. "We want criminals off of our streets. But what we're seeing now is not criminals being taken off our streets. We're seeing innocent families," he said. CBS News New York reached out to ICE for comment about the app and has not heard back. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also relies on apps and technology in its work involving migrants. ICE launched an app called SmartLINK in 2018, which can track migrants by the thousands and uses facial recognition technology to keep tabs on them.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Suffolk County residents turn to app for ICE activity alerts
SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11) — A surge in recent ICE activity on Long Island has led more residents to use an app that tracks ICE sightings across Suffolk County. Initiated by Islip Forward, a grassroots organization in Suffolk County, the ICE Tracker offers real-time alerts when ICE operations are spotted in neighborhoods. More Local News 'We created this tracker because Suffolk residents deserve to know when ICE is in our neighborhoods. Every child deserves to come home to their parents. Every parent deserves the chance to build a life without the threat of a black vest at the door,' said Ahmad Perez, founder and Executive Director of Islip Forward. Recently, ICE agents stopped Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old Brentwood citizen, who says he was targeted simply because he is Hispanic. ICE agents were also observed in Westbury, just a block away from the Park Avenue Elementary School. One agent was also involved in a motor vehicle accident. Residents also expressed concern that operations were so close to school grounds. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman addressed the idea of ICE entering schools. 'I think I just made it clear. The program is not intended to go into schools unless there's a danger. If there's a danger, I would support our police officers going into the school first, but they are not going into schools. We have talked to them. They are not asking witnesses or victims of crime for their immigration status.' Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
