New York—Long Island residents recently received a mailer in which Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, “so long as I am your County Executive, Nassau will never become a sanctuary county nor spend your tax dollars on services for non-citizens.” There is a similar statement in his official government biography using the term “illegal aliens.”
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Communities across Long Island have long been defined by the cultural and economic contributions of immigrant New Yorkers, who pay taxes just like everyone living and working in Nassau County. But Bruce Blakeman seems much more interested in fanning the flames of hatred than actually representing all of Nassau County’s residents. By politicizing immigration in his county and resorting to explicit dog whistles, he puts the well-being of immigrant families in his county in danger. While Blakeman may be living in a racist fantasy world where his government only serves people who look like him, Nassau County is in fact legally obligated to provide government services to all its residents. We condemn Blakeman’s persistent racist and anti-immigrant attacks, and call on him to stop using MAGA tactics to maintain his political support at the expense of too many of Nassau County’s hard-working immigrant community members.”