Nassau County’s top official on New York’s Long Island has vowed to bolster police presence and strengthen ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should Zohran Mamdani secure victory in the upcoming New York City mayoral election.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican with a reputation for prioritizing public safety and fiscal conservatism, aims to attract New York City residents to Long Island by enhancing security measures. This strategic move comes in anticipation of Mamdani, a Democrat, potentially taking office in City Hall, as reported by Blakeman’s spokesperson to the New York Post.
Blakeman’s pledge is a key component of his re-election campaign as he competes against Democratic challenger Seth Koslow later this month.
A split image featuring New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding immigration enforcement and policing policies. (Getty Images / Fox News composite)
“In the unfortunate event of a Mamdani win, [Blakeman] will hire more police officers, increase cooperation with [ICE], and actively encourage people and businesses to move to the safest county in America,” stated Chris Boyle, Blakeman’s spokesperson, in a comment to the Post.
Earlier this year, in February, Blakeman revealed a formal partnership with ICE, allowing 10 detectives from the Nassau County Police Department to be “cross-designated” as ICE agents, further cementing his commitment to enhanced security measures.
The arrangement permits these detectives to assist with immigration enforcement. The announcement also said the county jails would provide temporary detainee space for ICE, local detectives would notify ICE when arrests of undocumented immigrants occur, and they would embed with ICE for targeted operations, according to WABC.
Under the deal, 10 Nassau County detectives have been trained and designated to work with ICE on apprehensions and investigations, and the county has reserved 50 jail cells for ICE to hold detainees for up to 72 hours before deportation or charging.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, right, has pledged to hire more police and expand ICE cooperation if Zohran Mamdani, left, wins the mayoral race. (Angelina Katsanis, Pool/AP Photo; Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Blakeman recently told Fox News Digital that the policies are “massively popular,” including among the county’s Hispanic residents. He said they have been yielding results not only for Nassau County but for the wider region.
Boyle declined to provide further details on how the county would expand its cooperation with ICE, according to the Post.
Koslow has said that if elected, he would terminate the deal — aligning with Democratic policies on immigration.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, has vowed to end New York City’s cooperation with ICE, keep ICE out of city-run facilities and protect immigrant families from federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Federal agents and law enforcement stand outside 26 Federal Plaza on Oct. 21, 2025, in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
Blakeman has served as Nassau County executive since 2022. Earlier this year, he spearheaded the passage of legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports at county-owned facilities. A New York appeals court froze the ban earlier this month.
