As Outraged LI Residents Protest ICE: 'We Do Not Approve Of You Taking Our Neighbors;' ICE Details Arrests
HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Waving signs that read, "No Human Is Illegal," "Families Belong Together, Stop Raids!" and "Fire and ICE Do Not Mix!" a crowd of about 100 gathered in Hampton Bays Friday to speak out about ICE raids in the area.
Also on Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement responded to Patch about exactly who they said was arrested during raids in Westhampton and Hampton Bays Wednesday.
According to an ICE spokesperson, on November 5, "ICE New York City conducted operations targeting known criminal illegal aliens in Westhampton and Hampton Bay, Long Island. ICE officers from the Long Island sub-office arrested 12 illegal aliens, several with criminal convictions and all in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Violating immigration laws is a crime and carries consequences, which includes arrest, detention, and removal from the United States."
Among those arrested, ICE said, were:
- Sergio Gonzalez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was previous removed in 2010 and illegally reentered committing a felony, ICE said. Gonzalez's criminal history includes convictions for robbery and two counts of driving while intoxicated, according to ICE.
- Victor Martinez-Aparicio, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, ICE said.
- Alberto Gil-Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico, was previously removed in 2002 and illegally reentered which is a felony, ICE said. His criminal history includes convictions for assault and harassment, ICE added.
- Victor Hernandez Manual-Sosa, an illegal alien from Mexico convicted of driving while intoxicated and multiple charges for larceny, ICE said.
"President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal aliens to walk freely on U.S. streets. ICE will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing alien offenders from the U.S.," an ICE spokesperson said. "Collateral arrests of illegal aliens encountered during targeted enforcement actions are consistent with ICE's mission to uphold the integrity of our immigration system."
Anita Boyer, who organized Friday's rally, spoke to Patch after the event: "I am so grateful to everyone who came out to join us, everyone who shared the info, everyone who honked, and someone even brought us coffee!" she said. "We blasted jams and danced it out and we will keep doing it until ICE hears us! We do not approve of you taking our neighbors and family and friends. We do not approve of you using our volunteer fire department as a staging area! That space is for community support — not inciting terror like you do when you come."
She added: "We stand with our immigrant neighbors and will keep showing up because we are better together!"
The next protest — Boyer described it as a joyful dance party — will take place Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in Westhampton Beach.
Also this week, OLA of Eastern Long Island, a Latino advocacy organization, has asked people to join them and speak out. A flyer has been distributed asking individuals to "Stand Up for Our Community" at the Southampton Town board meeting, held at Southampton Town Hall on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
"Come speak out about ICE," OLA Executive Director Minerva Perez said. "Random raids are causing panic, injuries and chaoes."
Of Fridays' protest, Boyer said: "There was a wonderful group who showed up — over 100 people with less than 24 hours to mobilize."
The Hampton Bays fire chief, she said, spoke with the group at the end of the gathering.
"While they say they can't control or keep ICE agents out — our hope is that they will make a statement in support of the immigrant community to help them feel safe to call on them in an emergency," Boyer said. "I told him that I organized this event today, and that it is no disrespect to the fire department, but rather a demonstration to show our solidarity with our immigrant community and to ask the fire department of the East End to please stand with us"
Outraged residents
Large, unmarked SUVs in dark and silver colors were seen at multiple locations, including 7-Eleven in Westhampton Beach and the King Kullen parking lot in Hampton Bays.
According to Perez, executive director of OLA of Eastern Long Island, it is believed that about six or seven individuals were detained and arrested in the Hampton Bays area and, possibly, four in Westhampton Beach.
Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan spoke with Patch. "ICE did have a presence in the Town on Wednesday," he said.
Speculation was swirling on social media about a man possibly being struck by an ICE vehicle and pinned to the ground near the tire at the 7-Eleven parking lot in Westhampton Beach.
Kiernan said that he did hear a "rumor about someone being hit by a car but it seems that that information is not accurate as far as we know."
Kiernan said there is a photo circulating "but the narrative seems wrong."
Perez told Patch that there is a photo circulating of a man on the ground by the wheel of a car but that it's believed it was a photo taken during a separate, unrelated incident and not taken during the activity in Westhampton Beach.
According to Kiernan, the Southampton Town Police Department "was not aware of the activity prior to it starting but became involved when ICE agents called an ambulance for one of the people arrested that was complaining of difficulty breathing," he said. "It appears as though they came to execute warrants and were out of town by late morning."
Perez confirmed that someone in the Westhampton Beach parking lot was taken to the hospital for treatment, but said the injury was not serious and they were released.
The ICE activity sparked discontent and unease in the bucolic East End communities.
One resident told Patch that parents in the Westhampton Beach area were concerned about students going to and from school in the area of the Mill Road 7-Eleven, which, she said, was "swarmed."
Kristina Gale took the photo above in the King Kullen parking lot in Hampton Bays. "I took this photo because it was a large, unexpected operation in a public place and people were concerned. What bothered me was that none of the agents seemed to show any clear ID — just tactical gear and generic 'Police' patches. Since anyone can buy that online, it's important for the community to know who's actually involved when something this intense happens."
Another resident voiced her thoughts about the ICE activity: "Today my heart was broken, truly broken, to know that ICE was in my community reounding up people," said Marion Boden of Hampton Bays. "My neighbors. People I have grown to love over the years. I saw a video in which two women were scampering like frightened hunted human beings. We are all God's children and deserve to be treated with dignity."
"I'm furious," Boyer wrote. Boyer said she was upset to see the ICE agents organizing at the Hampton Bays Firehouse; in a video provided by Boyer, multiple agents and their vehicles were seen at the firehouse.
"It's horrifying that ICE is here and so unnecessary and wrong," Boyer said. "How is an immigrant or anyone who isn't white-skinned supposed to feel safe calling the fire department now?"
Hampton Bays Fire Department officials did not respond to a request for comment.
