Saturday, October 24, 2026
Parts of the Freeport community are living in fear.
Carmen Pineyro, former Freeport deputy mayor, describes a disturbing new reality, in which the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has transformed some of Freeport’s once tightly knit neighborhoods into a landscape of uncertainty and even terror.
The raids began in early June, targeting what Pineyro described as “hardworking mom and pops, neighbors and students” rather than criminals.
What makes these operations particularly devastating, she said, is their indiscriminate nature.
ICE agents are reportedly staking out bus stops, conducting early-morning checks in apartment complexes, and targeting individuals based on racial profiling.
“It’s like a hunt,” Pineyro explained, drawing a stark comparison to “The Hunger Games” in describing how community members are being pursued.
The impact extends far beyond individual arrests. Local businesses have been decimated, she said, and once-bustling streets have now gone quiet.
The psychological toll is perhaps even more profound, especially on children who watch as their parents and neighbors are suddenly and violently removed from their community.
Pineyro’s personal history adds depth to her perspective. Growing up in Freeport, she remembers similar experiences in the late 1980s, when ICE’s pre-Sept. 11 predecessor, Immigration and Naturalization Services, reportedly separated families. She emphasized, however, that today’s operations strike her as more fear-driven.
The current wave of activity is particularly cruel, she argues, because they target individuals with longstanding ties to the community. Many, she said, have lived in Freeport for decades, owned businesses, paid taxes, and been an integral part of the local fabric.
The recent changes in Temporary Protected Status eligibility have left many people vulnerable, creating what Pineyro calls “a subclass of citizens and residents living in the dark.”
According to Pineyro, the racial component of the immigration raids is impossible to ignore. She pointed out that while ICE is aggressively targeting Latino communities in Freeport, similar communities with different ethnic compositions — like the Russian community in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn — remain largely untouched.
Community response has been swift and organized. Residents have created informal networks to track and share information about ICE agents’ movements. Local leaders like Pineyro use social media to alert residents, helping them stay informed and potentially avoid detention.
The human cost is immeasurable. Children are experiencing trauma reminiscent of past immigration enforcement eras. Parents are afraid to attend graduation ceremonies or even pick their children up from school. Permanent residents and citizens are equally terrified, unsure if they might be mistakenly targeted.
Legislators and officials of area towns and villages have expressed concern about the raids, saying the aggressive enforcement is making communities feel unsafe and disrupting businesses and schools.
Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé said she was concerned about people’s ability to celebrate school graduations. “People are going to feel that they can’t celebrate their children’s milestones,” she said.
Mulé condemned practices such as racial profiling and kidnapping. She encouraged people to raise their voice to stop these illegal practices.
“If you are approached, make sure they have a judicial warrant,” she said. “And if not, don’t provide any information.”
In New York state, ICE agents can enter a home only with a judicial warrant or with the consent of the homeowner.
Mulé criticized the Trump administration for using vulnerable people as a “political prop” — to fulfill President Trump’s campaign pledge that he would pursue and deport undocumented immigrants.
“We should all look to uphold the state and federal law,” said New York State Assembly member Noah Burroughs. “In Freeport, the local authorities should always look to uphold the law, not dictate the law based on the president’s outrageous attempts to overstep state and federal constitutions.”
“We’ve heard that there have been raids in the village,” said Freeport Village Attorney Howard Colton. “ICE is in the village itself. As to the extent of what they have done, I don’t know.”
“The village of Freeport is not assisting ICE, except for in the case of an officer assistance call,” added Colton.
When asked about potential actions the village could take to protect its residents Colton referenced that federal law superseded local law.
“We don’t have authority over the federal government,” he said. “There’s a Supremacy Clause in the Constitution, which gives the federal government authority.”
Pineyro is clear about the broader implications of the immigration crackdown. It isn’t just about enforcement, she said. It’s about creating an environment of fear and division. She describes an “immigration to prison pipeline” where private detention centers profit from mass arrests, and bounty hunters are incentivized to “hunt” individuals.
The most heartbreaking aspect, according to Pineyro, is the seemingly arbitrary nature of the ICE raids. What began as supposedly targeted operations has been transformed, she said, into quota-driven sweeps that tear families apart and destabilize communities.
As Freeport continues to navigate this tense moment, Pineyro said she remains committed to raising awareness and supporting her neighbors.
“If it happens to your neighbor,” she warned, “shortly thereafter, it can happen to you, too.”
