Long Island congressional reps speak on aggressive immigration enforcement, Iran

Long Island’s congressional delegation said Monday that deportation efforts should prioritize immigrants with criminal convictions in the country illegally while criticizing the federal administration’s initial immigration enforcement tactics that led to the deaths of two people in Minneapolis.

Reps. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) discussed the challenges of crafting immigration policy, fear among Long Island’s immigrant communities and legislation that could provide a path to legal status for some during a morning event in Woodbury.

The nearly hourlong discussion at the Long Island Association’s "What’s New in Washington" event also focused on economic issues, renewable energy, the war in Iran and the bipartisan approach to finding solutions.

Garbarino, who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, said he pushed back "both publicly and behind the scenes" on tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis. He said White House border czar Tom Homan, whom Trump deployed to Minneapolis to lead the immigration enforcement following two high-profile fatal shootings, is "doing a very good job."

Garbarino said the two shootings in Minneapolis "definitely should not have happened," and he added he will never judge a police officer’s actions on the ground.

Gillen and Suozzi had faced intense backlash from constituents earlier this year after they crossed party lines to support a Department of Homeland Security spending bill. That vote came two days before the second Minneapolis shooting, after which both officials began to take a tougher stance.

Suozzi credited President Donald Trump for securing the border, but said he has "squandered that success" with overly aggressive tactics. He said the focus should be on fixing the "broken" asylum system and finding a path to legalize immigrants who have been in the United States without any criminal history before Trump's first term.

Gillen said she has heard from business leaders in her district who say people are afraid to patronize businesses for fear of running into ICE agents. She said Americans support targeted enforcement of criminals, "but that’s not what’s happening right now."

None of the officials specifically mentioned Nassau County’s controversial partnership with ICE, which has been the focus of protests in recent months.

Gillen said the Dignity Act of 2025, which she co-sponsored, would provide a pathway to legal status — not citizenship — to give people "peace of mind."

LaLota said federal deportation officers should have access to jails to easily deport the "truly bad" immigrants. He said the problems in Minneapolis were partly due to officials deciding not to cooperate with ICE. LaLota said Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to ban local police departments from signing agreements with ICE, known as 287(g) agreements, is a "terrible idea."

"We should have overwhelming consensus in all levels of government, regardless of Republican or Democrat, to get that done," he said of access to jails.

Stacey Sikes, the acting president and chief executive of the Long Island Association, moderated the panel before several hundred Long Island business leaders at Crest Hollow Country Club. One question centered on the path forward following the U.S.- and Israeli-led attack on Iran three weeks ago, which drove up oil prices and caused global economic disruption.

"I haven’t heard a plan," Gillen said, adding that, even in confidential briefings, she has not heard anything that gives her confidence in an exit strategy or goal.

Garbarino said he does not believe there will be boots on the ground and to do so "will require congressional approval and funding."

LaLota said American lives are at risk if Iranians develop nuclear capability. He said the United States needs to be "careful" and "prudent" about boots on the ground.

He said the U.S. plan in Iran is to "annihilate every Iranian terrorist who has the capability and desire to kill Americans."

Correction: Stacey Sikes is acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association. An earlier version of this story misidentified Sikes' title.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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