Following an incident involving ICE, the Long Island Democratic Party expressed strong condemnation after federal immigration officials described the actions of an undocumented immigrant who appeared to have banged his head against a brick wall during an altercation as a situation where he “fell” while engaging with officers.
This revolves around the arrest of Isai Santos Caceres, a 35-year-old, on January 5 in Hempstead. Video footage showed him, while handcuffed, colliding his head against a brick wall, leading critics to point fingers at investigators.
However, federal authorities disagree with that viewpoint.
A spokesperson from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement asserted in a statement that “During the encounter, Mr. Caceres fled on foot in an attempt to evade arrest. When officers cornered him, he became physically combative, ignored lawful commands, and assaulted law enforcement.”
They also noted, “After officers restrained Caceres, he continued to resist and even tried to kick the officers.” The statement continued, “During this struggle, the illegal alien fell against the side of the building. Once he was fully secured, law enforcement called for an ambulance, offering medical help, but he declined it.”
They added, “Avoiding or resisting arrest not only poses risks but is also a federal offense.”
The agency did not provide specifics about Caceres’s arrest or the circumstances leading to it.
Still, the unsettling video has provoked a strong reaction from activists and local Democrats.
Nassau County Councilwoman Viviana Russell expressed her disapproval, stating, “It’s unacceptable for a handcuffed man’s head to be smashed into a brick wall, leaving bystanders without medical assistance.”
She further commented on the implications of having minimally trained personnel carrying firearms in neighborhoods, stating, “Our community deserves better.”
The footage, captured outside a Hempstead supermarket, also drew ire from Islip Forward, a community advocacy group.
The group criticized the actions of the agents, describing it as “using [Caceres’] head like a battering ram into the wall. This is not normal.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has been an adamant supporter of President Trump’s strict immigration policies and signed an agreement last year with ICE to enhance cooperation in local immigration efforts, including a deal to release a cell at East Meadow Jail.
