Small Town Erupts After Officials Refuse to Ban ICE (Video)

Pro-border enforcement residents cheer as anti-ICE activists rage and shout “Shame!” at elected officials

Islip, NY – A Long Island town board meeting descended into chaos Tuesday night after officials rejected a push to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using the town’s rifle range for training.

The showdown unfolded in Islip, a quiet Suffolk County community where ICE has trained for over 15 years. The agency, now operating under President Trump’s renewed border-security mandate, uses the facility for long-gun qualifications alongside local law enforcement.

As the vote failed, furious anti-ICE activists screamed “Shame!” at the council. One woman stormed toward the board, shouting, “You should be embarrassed, truly!” Others hurled insults like “American Gestapo” and compared ICE to the Nazis — rhetoric that drew groans from pro-enforcement residents in the audience.

Long-Standing Agreement Under Fire

The uproar began in July when news broke that ICE was among several agencies using the town-owned range. Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter, a Republican, stressed the facility’s vital role in training “individuals from law enforcement agencies including the Nassau County Police, Sheriffs, DA’s office, U.S. Treasury, Farmingdale Police Department and the NYS Park Police.”

ICE has been training there since 2008 and has a contract in place until June 2026. Carpenter dismissed claims that the arrangement was dangerous, saying in a previous statement that political activists were “unnecessarily causing more distrust of our law enforcement agencies, especially in vulnerable communities already underreporting crimes.”

The Push to Kick ICE Out

Councilman Jorge Guadrón, the lone Democrat and the only Latino on the board, introduced the resolution to suspend ICE’s access, citing “fear, trauma, and destabilization of immigrant families and local businesses.” His motion also called for a review of alleged ICE misconduct before reinstating any training privileges.

Critics accused the Trump administration and ICE of “terrorizing our community” and claimed the town was taking “ICE blood money” by renting the range.

“This is fascism,” one 80-year-old resident declared. “They’re masked. They could be anybody. If we don’t speak out now, we won’t be able to later.”

Another woman said ICE agents were no different than Hitler’s stormtroopers, insisting they were arresting people “who’ve been here 20 or 30 years and committed no crimes.”

Supporters Push Back

But many residents backed ICE and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. One man stood up, waving photos of what he claimed were overcrowded houses filled with illegal immigrants.

“I voted for Trump. I want Trump,” he said to applause from the pro-enforcement side of the room. “I want him to get rid of the illegal immigrants in this country.”

Others praised ICE’s work. “These men and women are keeping us safe. If you’re here legally, you have nothing to fear,” one supporter said.

A Sign of the Times

The fiery debate mirrors national tensions as Trump’s second term continues its aggressive push to secure the border, deport those here illegally, and empower federal enforcement agencies. ICE’s presence in towns like Islip is part of a broader 2025 Homeland Security initiative to integrate federal training with local law enforcement to improve coordination in detaining and removing criminal aliens.

Sunday’s “Ice Out of Islip” rally drew around 150 protesters, but law-and-order supporters say the silent majority in the community backs keeping the training in place.

Supervisor Carpenter has made it clear: “We will not politicize public safety. This range serves our officers and our community — and that includes ICE.”