East Hampton, a wealthy enclave on Long Island known for its affluent residents and multimillion-dollar homes, is facing concerns over the potential impact of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Residents, many of whom rely on undocumented workers for domestic and labor services, gathered for an emergency meeting amid fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might begin large-scale deportations.

At the meeting, East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo sought to reassure attendees that local law enforcement would not be assisting in federal immigration enforcement efforts.

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“The only way any of my officers could ever enforce federal immigration law is if they were deputized,” Sarlo stated.

“The town board would not allow any of our officers to be deputized.”

His sentiment was echoed by East Hampton Village Police Chief Jeffrey Erickson, who confirmed that local officers would not honor ICE detainers or administrative warrants.

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“If it is an ICE detainer or an administrative warrant, we do not have the authority, we will not hold them,” Erickson said.

The meeting also heard from members of the local migrant community, including Daniela Rivas, who shared her personal fears and the anxieties faced by other undocumented workers.

“It’s really hard for me when my 10-year-old daughter asked me, ‘Mom, are you legal?’” Rivas said, adding that many migrants were too afraid to attend the meeting.

East Hampton Mayor Jerry Larsen sought to further calm fears, stating, “It’s clear to me that everybody thinks that ICE is just going to come and take anybody that is here… that is not what’s happening.”

Some residents emphasized the role undocumented migrants play in the local economy.

Alex Lovett, a resident, noted that they are “a vital part of the community” and that many businesses and homeowners rely on their labor.

However, the debate over sanctuary cities and immigration enforcement is far from localized to East Hampton.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi recently announced legal action against Chicago and its mayor, Brandon Johnson, over the city’s sanctuary policies.

Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Bondi stated, “Not only did we sue today the city of Chicago, we sued the state of Illinois, we sued the mayor, we sued the governor, and we sued others.”

The lawsuit argues that Chicago’s sanctuary laws obstruct ICE’s ability to enforce federal immigration laws.

Additionally, the Department of Justice has suspended federal funding to sanctuary states, cities, and nonprofit organizations involved in shielding undocumented immigrants.

Bondi delivered a direct warning to local governments choosing not to comply with federal immigration laws.

“What they’re doing is they are choosing illegal aliens over the safety and security of their own citizens and the men and women of law enforcement who are out there trying to protect their citizens,” she said.

“And let me be very clear, if you don’t comply with federal law, you’re going to be next.”

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While East Hampton leaders have reaffirmed their stance against assisting federal immigration efforts, nearby Nassau County has taken the opposite approach.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican and Trump ally, announced on Tuesday that the county would be working closely with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws.

Ten county police detectives are set to be deputized as federal immigration agents to assist in detaining undocumented immigrants charged with crimes.

“I want to stress that this program is about illegal migrants who have committed crimes,” Blakeman said.

“This isn’t about raids. This is targeted enforcement of our laws based here in the state of New York—people who have committed crimes here and have violated federal laws by being in the United States illegally.”

Federal law, specifically the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, allows ICE to delegate authority to state and local law enforcement agencies.

However, various states and municipalities have imposed restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Under the Trump administration, ICE significantly ramped up deportation efforts. According to federal data, nearly 6,000 illegal immigrants have been deported since Trump took office, averaging between 370 and 400 deportations per day.

On a single day, ICE reportedly deported 512 illegal immigrants and arrested 715 individuals for immigration violations, with 73 percent of them having known criminal records or pending charges.

Additionally, ICE has targeted criminal organizations, arresting multiple gang members, including affiliates of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) cartel.

Some high-risk individuals have reportedly been transferred to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba as part of heightened immigration enforcement efforts.

Trump has been vocal about his administration’s immigration policies, defending the aggressive approach as necessary for public safety.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he reiterated his stance.

“The volume of crime that they have and the viciousness of the crimes, these people are horrible people, and if somebody thinks they’re going to be wonderful citizens someday, they’re wrong. It’s not going to happen,” Trump said.

He further emphasized his desire to remove undocumented immigrants from the country. “I’d love to get them the hell out of our country,” he added.

With Trump’s policies continuing to drive immigration enforcement, tensions remain high in areas like East Hampton, where residents and local officials are at odds over how to handle the potential impact of federal crackdowns.

Meanwhile, Republican-led jurisdictions are embracing Trump’s directives, setting the stage for ongoing legal and political battles over immigration policy.

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