New York, NY—On Thursday, a man died in detention in a Nassau County jail after being arrested by ICE. Nassau County contracts to lease jail cells to ICE, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed 287(g) agreements with ICE in February 2025. The 287(g) agreement deputizes the Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County Sheriff's Office for the purpose of federal immigration enforcement and detentions.
Seven counties in New York State contract with ICE to hold immigration detainees (Allegany, Broome, Clinton, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Orange). There are 10 active 287(g) agreements between ICE and local law enforcement agencies across 6 counties (Broome, Madison, Nassau, Niagara, Rensselaer and Steuben) in New York State.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“No human being should die in immigration detention. Policies that demonize our immigrant neighbors have dire consequences, and we mourn this loss just as we mourn all people who pass too soon. But we must also note that Nassau County is actively participating in the federal administration’s anti-immigrant agenda through its use of 287(g) agreements, and the county had made a choice to jail this human being instead of upholding the public safety and well-being of every local resident. No municipal or county governments in New York should be using local resources to carry out the federal government’s mass deportation agenda, just as no one should die in custody. It is time for Nassau County – and every local government in New York State – to cancel its 287(g) agreements.”