A Cold Shadow: ICE's Presence in Hispanic Communities

Written by: Ryan DeLeva

Neighborhoods are meant to be a place of connection and support; no one should have to live in fear whenever they step outside, or even within their homes. Sadly, this is slowly but surely becoming the case for many families in various Long Island towns.

From the streets of Brentwood to the storefronts of Patchogue, a new chilling reality has taken root for the members of the community. The mundane routine of life has been replaced by a constant state of dread and worry. Whether it’s taking your dog for a walk, dropping your children off at school, or going to the grocery store, no task can be done without a state of awareness and vigilance. As aggressive street enforcement rises, the discussion is no longer about policy it is about the erosion of safety for members of the Hispanic community.

Recently citizens have seen a significant spike in "stealth" street-level enforcement across the New York area, with Long Island communities like Brentwood and Central Islip serving as primary focal points. With 73% of Brentwood's and 60% of Central Islip’s populations being Hispanic, it quickly becomes evident why this is a problem.

While many people believe this is a recent problem, it is something that has been brewing for years and affects everyone. This past year, people from Suffolk County who were wrongfully detained by ICE in the years 2014-2018 received a payout of $112 million. The verdict confirmed that “local authorities had held individuals in custody long after their cases were resolved, solely at the request of federal immigration authorities” Something this serious is not a “grey area” in politics, it simply is and should be widely considered an acknowledgement of constitutional violations against the people.

This past year, ICE detained 265 and deported 132 young people with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. The SJIS pathway was created by congress in 1990 to help immigrants under the age of 21 who are victims of abuse and neglect in their home countries safely get their green card in the United States.

These recent rollbacks and infringements on protections set in place for young people, and people in general, have left many communities in a state of anxiety and dismay. For those who have already suffered through abandonment, abuse, or neglect, the threat of deportation is not just a legal matter it is a life-or-death situation. The U.S. promised these people safety and by taking away these safeguards we are further ostracizing and hurting the Hispanic community and causing even more divide within our country.

ICE’s involvement in these neighborhoods doesn’t just affect immigrants, people born in this country are living in fear solely because of their race. An anonymous Long Island teacher recounts a specific example of this saying “We have a student who has major medical issues, often times leading to hospital visits. The last time we called home saying they needed to be taken to the hospital their parent refused to let us call 911 because they feared for what might happen if they came and saw a Hispanic child.”

Another teacher from Nassau County, Long Island shared the story of a student who came to them, “After Trump was elected President, I had a student come to me looking distraught. He asked to speak to me and began telling me through tears that he was scared his family would be deported even though they were here legally.” No matter how you look at it, Hispanic communities are in a state of turmoil and terror, innocent people fear for their lives because of the presence that ICE has solidified in their towns.

All people regardless of race, gender, religion, or any other category you want to group them into deserve to be and feel safe, and no parent should have to worry about their child being taken away when they are in medical distress. This fear and distrust within Hispanic communities shows a critical shortcoming in our government and how we as civilians have let down our neighbors.

It is critical that people realize the impact ICE has is not just political, but deeply personal. Every time a parent skips a doctor’s appointment, a child stays home from school, or a family avoids a local park, a piece of the neighborhood is quietly unraveled. When fear becomes the default setting for a community, it leads to isolation and severs any ties they might have with their community. By allowing these injustices to continue we further alienate and marginalize the Hispanic community.

Not everyone is standing by idly however. South Country Unites is an NGO based in Bellport NY, who are “dedicated to bringing our community together to defend and strengthen our democracy, advocate for effective policy reform and hold our elected officials accountable.” They hold a weekly “Tuesday visibility rally” in Patchogue where they picket to raise awareness for many violations of our freedoms and garner support for important issues.

While a weekly picket may seem like a small act in the face of unconstitutional government overreach, it is a vital step towards making communities feel safe and welcoming again. For Hispanic families who feel increasingly targeted and invisible, these demonstrations serve as a powerful signal that they are not alone. When community members stand in solidarity on the sidewalk, regardless of their own immigration status or background, they effectively reclaim public space as a place of mutual support rather than fear. Small acts such as picketing shatter the narrative of “us versus them” By standing with your neighbors it shows government officials that they can’t continue to target already fragile communities without pushback from the community as a whole and shows the people affected that they are not alone.

Ultimately, these simple acts of protest are only one step towards a greater goal and highlight an important yet terrifying truth, a community is only as strong as its most vulnerable members. The “cold shadow” of ICE is one that can only be dispersed through active community involvement and eventually reform in our government through whatever means necessary. People are people and nothing can change that, the idea that anyone is less than human is completely abhorrent. As we look towards our future, it is important to ask what kind of neighbor you want to be. Do you want to sit by and watch as the people around you are taken away and stripped of freedom and dignity, or do you want to be a beacon of hope for those around you?