Long Island Democrats Withdraw Support for ICE Funding Amid Controversy
Two Democratic representatives from Long Island, Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, are facing backlash from left-leaning critics and have decided to retract their support for funding ICE following the shooting of Alex Preti in Minneapolis.
Just a day before the January 24 shooting, both lawmakers voted in favor of a $64 billion homeland security spending bill, but soon after, they began to voice concerns over the decision.
During a protest at City Hall last week, demonstrators confronted Suozzi, even presenting him with an adult diaper—an apparent jab at his mishandling of the situation, particularly regarding comments he made about Donald Trump.
Tracy Edwards, an official with the Long Island NAACP, expressed her frustration regarding the New York delegation’s support for the bill, stating her discontent over their lack of attention to obvious issues with ICE enforcement.
In the days following the vote, Suozzi publicly apologized, acknowledging that he had not perceived the financing as a “referendum on ICE’s illegal and immoral actions in Minneapolis.”
In light of Suozzi’s comments, Gillen—who is regarded as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents—met with a group of Latino activists in her Garden City office. Reports suggest the meeting was quite uncomfortable for her.
Luis Mendez, an activist present at the meeting, recounted his role as a mediator between attendees who wished to dismiss Gillen entirely and those who believed she still had potential.
Gillen has not issued a public apology. The day after Suozzi’s remarks, however, she signed a resolution calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, advocating for urgent action.
According to a Democratic source, both lawmakers are attempting a dual strategy to navigate the situation without misleading anyone.
After the controversial spending bill, Republicans had to lean on their own members to pass a temporary extension of Homeland Security funding, narrowly passing it by a margin of 217-214. Democrats who had previously supported the bill have now retracted their endorsement.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat noted that he might vote differently if the bill were presented again, reflecting on the troubling developments from Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez framed the Democratic shift as a victory for grassroots pressure, emphasizing the importance of public engagement.
In contrast, Rep. Mike Lawler suggested that New York Democrats are succumbing to constituency pressures instead of progressing on the issue.
“Their base is in rebellion,” Lawler remarked.
Gillen clarified her stance, emphasizing that ICE must operate within legal boundaries, stating that accountability is key for any law enforcement agency that misuses its authority. She reiterated the need to impeach Noem to restore morality and order to the DHS.
Suozzi has not provided further comments on the matter.
While some community members are upset with their representatives, national support for certain immigration policies remains strong. A recent poll indicated that 73% of respondents believe entering the U.S. without authorization is unlawful, and 61% support deporting illegal immigrants back to their home countries.
