Latest news with #NewYorkCivilLibertiesUnion
25-06-2025
- Politics
Lawsuit challenges a Long Island county's partnership in New York with ICE
A suburban New York county's agreement with federal authorities to empower local police officers to conduct immigration arrests is being challenged in court by civil rights advocates. A lawsuit filed Tuesday argues the agreement between Nassau County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced in February violates state law, undermines individuals' rights and will lead to racial profiling. Dozens of other police departments around the U.S. have similar partnerships, known as 287(g) agreements, with ICE, but only a handful exist in New York, where state law limits when police agencies can cooperate with federal immigration officials. The agreements ramp up the number of immigration enforcement staff available to ICE as it aims to meet President Donald Trump's mass deportation goals. Broome County and Niagara County officials also reached agreements with ICE this year, joining Rensselaer County, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Diocese of Long Island, immigrant and refugee advocates and two Long Island residents. Nassau County is on Long Island just east of New York City. "This unlawful agreement isn't about safety, reason, or the rule of law — it's about fear mongering and needlessly hurting immigrant communities.' Rubin Danberg-Biggs, Skadden fellow at the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a news release. In announcing the agreement, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican and Trump ally, said 10 county police detectives would be given the same authority as federal immigration agents and work with them to detain immigrants who are in the country illegally. Blakeman said police would check the immigration status of people charged with crimes and notify ICE if they are there illegally. The arrangement also includes embedding officers with ICE and providing jail cells for short-term detainment until arrestees can be handed over to federal authorities. 'We are not aware of any lawsuit at this time,' Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle said late Tuesday, 'and while we typically do not comment on litigation, County Executive Blakeman is confident that all measures taken to protect communities in Nassau County are legal and properly authorized.' An email seeking comment was sent to ICE. About 22%, or more than 300,000, of Nassau County's 1.4 million residents are immigrants, according to Melanie Creps, executive director of the Central American Refugee Center, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs. 'The 287(g) agreement between ICE and the Nassau County Police Department has created fear, eroded trust, and made immigrants, and all of our communities, less safe," Creps said. 'It undermines public safety by deterring immigrants from seeking help or reporting crimes.'
Winnipeg Free Press
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Lawsuit challenges a Long Island county's partnership in New York with ICE
A suburban New York county's agreement with federal authorities to empower local police officers to conduct immigration arrests is being challenged in court by civil rights advocates. A lawsuit filed Tuesday argues the agreement between Nassau County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced in February violates state law, undermines individuals' rights and will lead to racial profiling. Dozens of other police departments around the U.S. have similar partnerships, known as 287(g) agreements, with ICE, but only a handful exist in New York, where state law limits when police agencies can cooperate with federal immigration officials. The agreements ramp up the number of immigration enforcement staff available to ICE as it aims to meet President Donald Trump's mass deportation goals. Broome County and Niagara County officials also reached agreements with ICE this year, joining Rensselaer County, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Diocese of Long Island, immigrant and refugee advocates and two Long Island residents. Nassau County is on Long Island just east of New York City. 'This unlawful agreement isn't about safety, reason, or the rule of law — it's about fear mongering and needlessly hurting immigrant communities.' Rubin Danberg-Biggs, Skadden fellow at the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a news release. In announcing the agreement, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican and Trump ally, said 10 county police detectives would be given the same authority as federal immigration agents and work with them to detain immigrants who are in the country illegally. Blakeman said police would check the immigration status of people charged with crimes and notify ICE if they are there illegally. The arrangement also includes embedding officers with ICE and providing jail cells for short-term detainment until arrestees can be handed over to federal authorities. 'We are not aware of any lawsuit at this time,' Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle said late Tuesday, 'and while we typically do not comment on litigation, County Executive Blakeman is confident that all measures taken to protect communities in Nassau County are legal and properly authorized.' An email seeking comment was sent to ICE. About 22%, or more than 300,000, of Nassau County's 1.4 million residents are immigrants, according to Melanie Creps, executive director of the Central American Refugee Center, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs. 'The 287(g) agreement between ICE and the Nassau County Police Department has created fear, eroded trust, and made immigrants, and all of our communities, less safe,' Creps said. 'It undermines public safety by deterring immigrants from seeking help or reporting crimes.'
Associated Press
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Lawsuit challenges a Long Island county's partnership in New York with ICE
A suburban New York county's agreement with federal authorities to empower local police officers to conduct immigration arrests is being challenged in court by civil rights advocates. A lawsuit filed Tuesday argues the agreement between Nassau County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced in February violates state law, undermines individuals' rights and will lead to racial profiling. Dozens of other police departments around the U.S. have similar partnerships, known as 287(g) agreements, with ICE, but only a handful exist in New York, where state law limits when police agencies can cooperate with federal immigration officials. The agreements ramp up the number of immigration enforcement staff available to ICE as it aims to meet President Donald Trump's mass deportation goals. Broome County and Niagara County officials also reached agreements with ICE this year, joining Rensselaer County, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Diocese of Long Island, immigrant and refugee advocates and two Long Island residents. Nassau County is on Long Island just east of New York City. 'This unlawful agreement isn't about safety, reason, or the rule of law — it's about fear mongering and needlessly hurting immigrant communities.' Rubin Danberg-Biggs, Skadden fellow at the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a news release. In announcing the agreement, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican and Trump ally, said 10 county police detectives would be given the same authority as federal immigration agents and work with them to detain immigrants who are in the country illegally. Blakeman said police would check the immigration status of people charged with crimes and notify ICE if they are there illegally. The arrangement also includes embedding officers with ICE and providing jail cells for short-term detainment until arrestees can be handed over to federal authorities. 'We are not aware of any lawsuit at this time,' Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle said late Tuesday, 'and while we typically do not comment on litigation, County Executive Blakeman is confident that all measures taken to protect communities in Nassau County are legal and properly authorized.' An email seeking comment was sent to ICE. About 22%, or more than 300,000, of Nassau County's 1.4 million residents are immigrants, according to Melanie Creps, executive director of the Central American Refugee Center, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs. 'The 287(g) agreement between ICE and the Nassau County Police Department has created fear, eroded trust, and made immigrants, and all of our communities, less safe,' Creps said. 'It undermines public safety by deterring immigrants from seeking help or reporting crimes.'
New York Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
ICE Is Working With Long Island Police. A Lawsuit Calls That Illegal.
Two weeks after President Trump returned to power, the Republican leaders of Nassau County on Long Island vowed to help him with his immigration crackdown. They were among the first local government leaders in the United States to announce a partnership between their Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to conduct immigration arrests during Mr. Trump's second term. Across the nation, hundreds of other police agencies forged similar agreements, jump-starting a crucial part of Mr. Trump's agenda: enlisting local law enforcement to boost deportations. On Tuesday, the New York Civil Liberties Union sued Nassau County and its Police Department, arguing that the partnership was unlawful. The lawsuit, the first of its kind in New York State, says that the agreement between the county and the federal government violates state law, undermines protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and promotes racial profiling. If successful, the suit could threaten similar or future agreements in New York. Two other counties that lean conservative — Broome and Niagara — signed partnerships with ICE this year, joining Rensselaer County, which has had a pact with federal immigration authorities since 2018. 'It's a recipe for racial and ethnic profiling,' said Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. 'It's a devastating attack on fundamental rights for the Police Department in Nassau County to be behaving like ICE.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Headed to a protest? You might want to leave your cell phone at home
A police helicopter circling over protests of immigration raids in Los Angeles offered a chilling warning to the demonstrators below. "I have all of you on camera," the pilot announced. "I'm going to come to your house." The declaration, whether true or not, raised extreme concerns among civil liberties and digital privacy groups, who reiterated the public has a First Amendment right to protest. It also served as a reminder of the vast arsenal of surveillance technology used by law enforcement to monitor these protests ― including devices like license plate readers, drones, cell site simulators, security cameras and more. Surveillance: Government is trying hard to put more eyes on us in NY. How are they doing it? Locally, protesters are expected to gather across Rochester and Monroe County on June 14 to push back on policies from the Trump administration. The protests are part of a nationwide effort being called "No Kings Day." If you're planning to attend, you might be wondering ― how can I protect myself from surveillance? Here are some basic tips from civil rights and privacy organizations like the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation: Consider leaving your phone at home. "When you come to a protest like this, it makes sense to bring a camera with you, to bring a phone with you, to make sure you can record it ― you can get the message out. The message is super important," the ACLU's Daniel Kahn Gillmor said in a 2020 video about privacy at protests. "But those same phones, those same cameras, can cause problems when the data gets into the hands of people who you are against." If you must bring a phone: Turn off all your location services or make sure it is on airplane mode. Your phone transmits radio signals that can help police tie you to an event. Don't forget to check other devices like your smartwatch. Disable features that allow you to unlock your phone using your face or fingerprint and set a strong password. This will make it more difficult for police to unlock your phone without your permission. Encrypt and back up your data. This will protect the information on your phone if it is confiscated by police, lost or stolen. Consider using an encrypted messaging service like Signal to communicate with others during the protest. Consider walking or biking to a protest. Automated license plate readers create a time-stamped, searchable database of cars moving through specific intersections. Police can use those images to track how you got to a protest and prove you were there. Similarly, public transportation systems have the ability to track people's movements through transit cards or credit card payments. Wear a face mask, hat or sunglasses. Conceal any distinguishing features like tattoos or bright hair colors. EFF suggests you dress in dark, monochrome colors that will help you blend into a crowd. Face accessories will make it more difficult for police to identify you if they are using facial recognition technology. Be mindful of other protesters in your photos and videos, especially if live-streaming the protest on social media. Avoid tagging or posting images of people without their permission, or edit the photos to blur out faces and other identifying features. "Law enforcement frequently uses social media and surveillance tools to monitor and identify protesters — especially those expressing dissenting views,' said Justin Harrison, a senior attorney with the NYCLU. 'New Yorkers should take precautions against intrusive surveillance when protesting: leave electronic devices at home, disable location tracking, and avoid using face recognition features. All New Yorkers deserve to mobilize for their rights without fear of the government's prying eyes.' — Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Get in touch at kcanne@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Should you bring your cell phone to a protest? What you should know
