Thursday, October 1, 2026
On Feb. 21, Freeport residents and Nassau County Democrats assembled at 11a.m. alongside a Dunkin Donuts on Sunrise Highway and Henry Street for a peaceful demonstration calling for the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Nassau County. The demonstration was ran in conjunction with Democratic groups in Malverne, Lynbrook, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Valley Stream, Baldwin, Bellmore and Merrick, which occurred in other locations alongside Sunrise Highway.
Nassau County Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé was present at the Freeport protest, and described the current local and national issue of immigration enforcement as “one of the most important issues of our time.”
“I was raised to believe that it is our moral duty to use our voices to stand up for the most vulnerable people in our society,” said Mulé. “By embracing the power found in acts of conscientious, peaceful protest, the people of Minneapolis have shown us the role each of us can have in defending our democracy and restoring decency and civility to our nation.”
Minneapolis, Minnesota has become a national focal point of ICE raids and anti-ICE protests, particularly after the deaths of two civilians, Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, by ICE agents in two different incidents.
Noah Burroughs, the New York State Representative for Assembly District 18, was also present for the protest. Prior to the demonstration, Burroughs made targeted demands of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to remove ICE for the county, describing ICE as a “racial issue” instead of a political one.
“We’re looking to ask Blakeman to look to find something that’s very hard to find in his heart, and that’s to show humanity for people who came here, just as his ancestors came here,” Burroughs said. “You’re deputizing Nassau County police officers to help ICE, to guide ICE, to detain and deport people who look a certain way, who speak a certain language, and that’s not looking to get rid of criminals.”
Blakeman has been a staunch supporter of ICE in Nassau County, having vowed previously to fight a proposed ban from New York governor Kathy Hochul, on local officers acting as federal immigration agents. ICE currently has a 287(g) agreement with the Nassau County Police Department to be able to deploy local officers to carry out ICE tasks.
