Suozzi and Mulvey Call for Federal Investigation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Raids in Nassau
Among Charges: Tactics Compromised Safety of Nassau County Police Officers and the Public
Mineola, NY – Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence W. Mulvey today called for a federal investigation into the tactics and practices used in raids in Nassau County communities on Sept. 24 and 26.
In letters addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and other federal officials, Suozzi and Mulvey said the raids “lacked current intel.” On three occasions, ICE officials failed to check the names and addresses of their arrest targets against the Nassau Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Files – resulting in wrong residences raided. In other instance, ICE sought a 28-year-old using a photograph from when the defendant was seven.
“The immigration laws of the United States should be enforced and I fully support the execution of lawfully issued arrest warrants in Nassau County, particularly for known gang members,” Suozzi wrote in a letter to Chertoff. “I condemn, however, any tactical actions which cross the lines of legality and law enforcement best practices.”
“Tactically the operation was structured poorly,” Mulvey said, adding that the federal operation utilized border patrol personnel from around the country who had not trained together for this mission. “Some ICE members wore cowboy hats and in the view of some of my members displayed a ‘cowboy’ mentality. This, in my view, posed unnecessary dangers to all parties, including my members, who in fact were drawn upon by the agents."
Text of Letter from Suozzi to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff:
October 2, 2007
Michael Chertoff
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20536
Dear Mr. Chertoff:
I bring to your attention serious allegations of misconduct and malfeasance committed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel in executing arrest warrants in various Nassau County communities on September 24 and 26, 2007. I ask that you investigate the allegations and advise me of your written findings.
The immigration laws of the United States should be enforced and I fully support the execution of lawfully issued arrest warrants in Nassau County, particularly for known gang members. I condemn, however, any tactical actions which cross the lines of legality and law enforcement best practices.
In order to facilitate an appropriate inquiry, enclosed is a copy of Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence W. Mulvey’s September 27, 2007 letter to Joseph A. Palmese, the Resident Agent in Charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“I.C.E.”) office located in Bohemia, New York. A portion of the letter has been redacted so as not to interfere with planned I.C.E. operations. Commissioner Mulvey’s letter raises important issues as to how I.C.E. personnel, in the presence of Nassau County police officers, conducted themselves, including these observations:
- The operation on Monday lacked current intel.” I.C.E. officials failed on three occasions to check the names and addresses of their arrest targets against the Nassau County Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Files. The result was that many wrong residential addresses were raided and in one instance I.C.E. sought a 28 year old defendant using a photograph taken when he was a 7 year old boy. Of the reported 82 Nassau County arrests, our police records indicate that 8 are active gang members and 1 is a gang associate.
- “Tactically the operation was structured poorly.” The federal operation utilized border patrol personnel from around the country who had not trained together for this complex mission. “[S]ome [I.C.E.] members wore cowboy hats and in the view of some of my members displayed a “cowboy” mentality. This, in my view, posed unnecessary danger to all parties, including my members, who in fact were drawn upon by some of the agents.”
I know you agree that these are serious allegations and deserve a serious and prompt response.
Very truly yours,
Thomas R. Suozzi
County Executive
Cc: Julie Meyers, Assistant Secretary for I.C.E.
Roslynn Maskopf, United States Attorney for the Eastern District
Kathleen Rice, Nassau County District Attorney
