The New York Civil Liberties Union is appealing a decision from the State Supreme Court that ruled Nassau County’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through a 287(g) agreement is valid.
The partnership was prompted by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, which gives police the authority to stop, question and arrest anyone they deem to be an illegal immigrant.
Blakeman has held since earlier this year that the partnership would protect New Yorkers and benefit Americans.
The agreement has promoted racial profiling by the Nassau County Police Department and violates New York state law, the NYCLU said in a statement.
Professor Stefan Krieger at the Hofstra Law Clinic said that according to state law, an officer can arrest someone if they see a crime or if there is a judicial warrant. He said the partnership violates state and federal law by allowing NCPD officers to arrest people based on administrative warrants from ICE.
“[The agreement] allows the county to deputize Nassau County Police Department officers to be able to act as ICE agents,” Krieger said in an interview. “That’s not allowed under the federal law.”
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Krieger said that Blakeman’s partnership has essentially permitted NCPD officers to act as ICE agents through a 287(g) agreement, which makes Nassau County part of the 287(g) program.
Suchprogramsallow ICE to embed within communities where these agreements are made and check people’s immigration statuses and implement deportation proceedings.
“The bottom line is that the 287(g) has allowed the police to profile immigrants, illegal immigrants,” Krieger said. “Blakeman says, ‘Oh, only after criminals,’ that is just incorrect. People are being stopped because they are Latinos.”
Source: LI Press
