Issues with Immigrant Detention in Nassau County
Nassau County is reportedly holding many immigrant detainees in jail far longer than the agreed three-day limit stipulated in its arrangement with federal immigration authorities, according to immigration advocacy organizations.
Recent federal data from the Deportation Data Project claims that over 360 immigrants have been kept beyond the 72-hour threshold at East Meadow Jail, with some individuals detained for nearly a week.
The contract signed earlier this year by Nassau Executive Bruce Blakeman allows for 50 cells to be used for federal immigration detainees, but only for a maximum of three days. Any detainee should be released or transferred by federal agents after that period.
Attempts to get a comment from Blakeman’s office were met with silence, though he has previously denied any violation of the three-day stipulation.
Under this contract, Nassau rents up to 50 cells to ICE for $195 per night.
Between the beginning of the year and mid-October, over 2,200 detainees have been held in Nassau, with at least 366 remaining in custody past the three-day limit. More than 60% of these individuals did not have any criminal history, based on data obtained from ICE through a federal lawsuit.
Some detainees have reportedly been held for close to 11 days.
A spokesperson for Blakeman suggested to a news outlet that extended detentions are infrequent and typically stem from issues like travel delays or medical quarantines, asserting that no individual has been held beyond 72 hours.
A source close to the county executive argued that the data was questionable, although the research group claims its figures come directly from ICE.
Although the 72-hour limit is not specified in state law, it is part of Nassau’s contract with ICE. Holding individuals longer than allowed could potentially infringe upon New York’s sanctuary laws, which are intended to protect civilians from immigration enforcement actions, as noted by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
In defense of the agreement, Blakeman has stated that it aims to enhance safety by providing jail cells for ICE. However, Democrats have pointed out that the newly released data adds to the ongoing criticism of the county’s partnership with ICE, especially following the death of detainee Santos Banegas Reyes in September.
Jay Jacobs, head of the state and Nassau County Democratic Committees, criticized Blakeman’s involvement, saying it’s an issue that needs attention.
Reyes’ family disagrees with ICE’s official account that he died from “liver failure complicated by alcoholism.”
Following Reyes’ death, accusations have surfaced regarding the treatment of ICE detainees in Nassau, including claims of insufficient food, poor-quality drinking water, and lack of access to legal representation and phone calls, based on reports from the state Democratic Party and the New York City Legal Aid Society.
County officials have dismissed these assertions.
In neighboring Suffolk County, officials secured a $112 million settlement from a federal jury for similarly holding ICE detainees longer than permitted under New York state law. Suffolk originally accused ICE of failing to transfer detainees promptly but has since stopped the practice, while Nassau continues its collaboration with federal authorities.
