ICE ramps up enforcement in Long Island and domestic airports

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly increased its enforcement activities across the United States, specifically within Long Island communities and domestic airports. In Long Island, advocacy groups report that daily sightings of federal agents have risen from approximately 2 or 3 per day to as many as 6 to 8.

Nationwide, reports indicate that ICE has been given a target of approximately 2,000 immigration arrests per day. This surge in activity has led the American Immigration Lawyers Association to issue travel alerts for visa holders. Legal experts advise individuals to remain calm, exercise their right to remain silent, request an attorney, and opt out of facial recognition technology if stopped.

As enforcement intensifies at transportation hubs, some airlines are implementing protocols to verify law enforcement documentation. In one recent incident, Southwest Airlines blocked a federal agent from boarding a plane to locate a target after the agent failed to provide a warrant signed by a judge.