Criminal Defense Lawyers

Nassau County Immigration Lawyers

Last Updated on: 23rd October 2025, 02:58 am

If you’re an immigrant in Nassau County in 2025, it’s important to realize that, you are facing the most aggressive local enforcement in New York State, and the Nassau County Police Department signed a Task Force Model 287(g) agreement with ICE. This is serious notification that 10 Nassau County detectives now have federal immigration authority, they can question your citizenship status during traffic stops, noise complaints, any police contact. The Nassau County Police aren’t just helping ICE anymore, they ARE immigration enforcement, and this can be devastating for the 50,000 undocumented immigrants living in Hempstead, Garden City, Freeport, Glen Cove. The ICE New York Field Office pays Nassau County $195 per person per day for detention, and arrests went from 500 in all of 2024 to nearly 2,800 in first seven months of 2025.

This is designed to explain what Nassau County’s 287(g) agreement means for you, and it’s important to note that, your Fourth Amendment protections can be crucial. You don’t have to answer questions about immigration status, you can say “I prefer not to answer questions without my attorney,” and this is constitutional right that applies during traffic stops, home visits, workplace encounters. The DOJ revived the Task Force model that Obama discontinued over racial profiling concerns, and Nassau County was first in New York to sign on, really first jurisdiction to embrace aggressive enforcement.

Understanding Nassau County’s 287(g) Task Force Agreement

It’s important to realize that, Nassau County signed the most aggressive type of 287(g) agreement, not the jail model where they just check status of arrested people, but Task Force Model that gives broad street enforcement authority. This can be different from other counties because deputized detectives can question anyone about status, make arrests without judicial warrants, conduct workplace raids with ICE. This is is serious because before 287(g), Nassau County police couldn’t arrest for immigration violations even if they suspected undocumented status.

The federal government can be providing training to Nassau County officers, and in this situation, 10 detectives completed four-week ICE training program. These officers now have access to federal immigration databases, can issue detainers, initiate removal proceedings, and it’s crucial to understand they’re not bound by sanctuary policies that protect immigrants in NYC. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman supports aggressive enforcement, he says it’s about public safety, but immigrant communities see it differently.

ICE pays Nassau County substantial money, $195 per person per day for detention, and this can be financial incentive for aggressive enforcement. The county jail in East Meadow holds immigration detainees, families get separated, people detained for months while fighting deportation. This is serious, really serious, and immigrant rights groups filed lawsuit challenging the 287(g) agreement as unconstitutional.

Your Constitutional Rights During Nassau County Police Encounters

Your constitutional rights during police encounters in Nassau County can be your primary protection, and it’s important to note that, Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches regardless of immigration status. If Nassau County police stop you, you don’t have to consent to vehicle search, home search, and you can say “I do not consent to any searches.” But if they have probable cause or warrant, they can search anyway, and anything they find can be used in immigration proceedings.

This is designed to protect you, but in this situation, many immigrants don’t know their rights. Fifth Amendment means you don’t have to answer questions about where you were born, your citizenship, how you entered United States, and regardless of what officers tell you, silence cannot be used as admission of undocumented status. Nassau County police might say cooperation will help you, but anything you say can be used to initiate deportation proceedings.

It’s crucial to understand that, even with 287(g) authority, Nassau County officers must follow constitutional requirements. They need reasonable suspicion for stops, probable cause for arrests, and racial profiling can be illegal even under federal immigration enforcement. We’ve seen cases where officers stop only Hispanic drivers, question only Latino residents, and this can be basis for constitutional challenge.

Immigration Enforcement Changes in Nassau County Communities

Hempstead has large Salvadoran and Central American populations, and it’s important to realize that, these communities face increased targeting under 287(g). Freeport’s Hispanic and Portuguese immigrants report more police stops, questions about status during routine encounters. Glen Cove’s Hispanic and Asian communities see officers at day laborer sites, construction areas, and this can be intimidation even if no arrests happen. Great Neck and Roslyn have large Asian immigrant populations who face different enforcement patterns.

In this situation, Garden City and Five Towns immigrant communities might think they’re safer in affluent areas, but 287(g) authority applies countywide. We’ve seen Nassau County police conduct operations in Westbury, New Hyde Park, Hicksville, everywhere immigrants live and work. This is comprehensive enforcement strategy that affects every immigrant in Nassau, documented or not, because officers can question anyone.

The impact on mixed-status families can be devastating, and U.S. citizen children watch parents get detained during traffic stops. Legal permanent residents with old criminal convictions suddenly face deportation proceedings. Even documented immigrants feel afraid because one mistake with paperwork can lead to ICE detention. This is what aggressive enforcement looks like infront of our communities.

Defense Strategies for Nassau County Immigration Cases

At Spodek Law Group, we handle Nassau County immigration cases with comprehensive approach, and it’s important to realize that, every case can be different. This is serious matter that requires attorneys who understand both criminal and immigration law, federal procedures, how Nassau County’s 287(g) program operates.

Defense strategies we use can include challenging the stop itself for lack of reasonable suspicion, the questions exceeded scope of traffic stop, and this can result in suppression of statements about immigration status. Constitutional challenges can be effective when officers engaged in racial profiling, targeted specific neighborhoods, questioned people solely based on appearance or accent. In this situation, pattern evidence of discriminatory enforcement can support class action challenges to entire 287(g) program.

Immigration bond hearings can be crucial for detained clients, and we argue for release while case proceeds. Nassau County detention at $195 per day creates financial burden for families, psychological trauma for children, and judges can consider these factors. Asylum claims can be filed even after 287(g) arrest if you fled persecution, missed one-year deadline due to extraordinary circumstances, and we help document persecution, prepare testimony, gather country condition evidence andcontext.

Types of Immigration Relief Available

This is designed to show relief options, and it’s crucial to understand that, eligibility can be complex. Even with 287(g) arrest, many forms of relief remain available if you qualify.

Nassau County 287(g) Program Legal Challenges

It’s important to note that, immigrant rights groups filed federal lawsuit challenging Nassau County’s 287(g) agreement. The lawsuit argues program violates equal protection, enables racial profiling, exceeds local police authority, and this can be important for your case. If you were stopped based on appearance, questioned about status without reasonable suspicion, we document this for both your individual case and potential class action.

In this situation, other jurisdictions terminated 287(g) agreements after legal challenges, community pressure. But Nassau County Executive remains committed to enforcement, says it’s about removing criminals, protecting residents. Immigration advocates point out most arrests involve traffic violations, minor offenses, not serious crimes. This is political battle affecting real families.

The Biden administration limited 287(g) programs but didn’t end them, and future administrations might expand or restrict these agreements. This can be why comprehensive immigration reform remains crucial, but meanwhile, Nassau County immigrants face daily enforcement reality. Don’t even try handling this alone without legal representation.

Impact on Nassau County Immigrant Communities

Nassau County’s immigrant communities contribute billions to local economy, and it’s important to realize that, aggressive enforcement hurts everyone. Immigrants own one-third of small businesses, make up one-third of workforce, and when they’re afraid to leave homes, businesses suffer, tax revenue drops. This is economic reality that enforcement-only approach ignores.

Mixed-status families can be torn apart when parent gets detained during routine police encounter. U.S. citizen children miss school, need counseling, and some families leave Nassau County entirely rather than risk separation. Legal residents with decades in community suddenly face deportation for old convictions that weren’t immigration priorities before.

It’s crucial to understand workplace impacts, and construction sites, restaurants, landscaping companies report worker shortages. Employees afraid to come to work, especially in Hempstead, Freeport, areas with visible enforcement. Employers losing experienced workers, training costs increase, and this affects Nassau County’s economy beyond just immigrant communities.

Criminal Arrests and Immigration Consequences

Any criminal arrest in Nassau County now triggers immigration review under 287(g), and it’s important to note that, even minor offenses can lead to deportation proceedings. Shoplifting, disorderly conduct, driving without license, these misdemeanors that might get dismissed in criminal court can still result in ICE detention. This is different from before when only serious crimes triggered immigration enforcement.

We handle both criminal and immigration aspects, negotiate pleas that avoid immigration consequences, and in this situation, coordination between criminal and immigration attorneys can be crucial. Many criminal defense lawyers don’t understand immigration consequences, accept pleas that guarantee deportation. Nassau County prosecutors might offer seemingly good deals that are immigration disasters.

It’s important to realize that, old convictions suddenly matter again under aggressive enforcement. Permanent residents with 20-year-old drug possession, past DWI, these weren’t priorities before but now trigger removal proceedings. We’ve seen Nassau County initiate deportation for convictions from 1990s, 2000s, cases people thought were behind them. This is retroactive enforcement that destroys established lives.

Nassau County Immigration Questions

How can I find a lawyer who understands my case and has experience with 287(g) enforcement?

Finding right attorney for Nassau County immigration cases can be crucial, and it’s important to realize that, not all immigration lawyers understand 287(g) enforcement specifics. You need someone who knows both immigration law and criminal defense, understands how Nassau County police operate under federal authority, has experience with ICE detention proceedings. Look for attorneys who handled 287(g) cases specifically, know Nassau County judges, prosecutors, have relationships that can help negotiations.

This is serious decision, and during consultations, ask about specific 287(g) experience, outcomes in similar cases. Spodek Law Group has defended hundreds of Nassau County immigrants since 287(g) began, we understand the program, know which arguments work. Don’t just hire any immigration attorney, you need someone with specific Nassau County 287(g) experience. Period.

Can criminal convictions prevent me from becoming a permanent resident or U.S. citizen?

Criminal convictions absolutely can prevent immigration benefits, and it’s important to note that, 287(g) makes this worse. Under Nassau County enforcement, any arrest gets reported to ICE, even if charges dropped, dismissed. Certain crimes can be permanent bars to citizenship, aggravated felonies, crimes involving moral turpitude, drug offenses except single marijuana possession under 30 grams. This is complex area where criminal and immigration law intersect.

Good moral character requirement for naturalization can be affected by arrests, not just convictions. Nassau County’s aggressive enforcement means more contact with police, more arrest records, and this can complicate citizenship applications years later. We review entire criminal history before filing any immigration application, identify issues, develop strategies to address them.

What should I do if Nassau County police question me about my immigration status?

If Nassau County police question you about status, it’s crucial to understand that, you have right to remain silent. Say “I prefer not to answer questions without my attorney present,” then stop talking, and this can be your best protection. Don’t lie about status, don’t show fake documents, don’t run, these can be separate crimes making situation worse. Give your name if asked, show driver’s license if driving, but you don’t have to answer citizenship questions.

Contact attorney immediately, document everything about encounter, badge numbers, patrol car numbers, and regardless of what officers say, you have constitutional rights. Even with 287(g) authority, they cannot detain you indefinitely without probable cause. If arrested, don’t sign anything without attorney review, especially voluntary departure forms. This is time when legal representation can be difference between staying with family or deportation.

Contact Spodek Law Group for Nassau County Immigration Defense

Todd Spodek and our team have over 50 years combined experience defending immigrants, and it’s important to note that, we’ve handled thousands of cases since 1976. We represented Anna Delvey in case that became Netflix series, handled Ghislaine Maxwell juror misconduct matter, and this same level of dedication applies to every Nassau County immigration case.

287(g) enforcement in Nassau County requires immediate response, detention hearings happen quickly, critical decisions can’t wait, and we maintain 24/7 availability because ICE doesn’t wait for business hours. Our online portal lets you submit documents, communicate securely, track case progress from anywhere. This is modern representation for serious immigration matters.

Call Spodek Law Group at 212-300-5196, and we’ll evaluate your situation, explain options, develop defense strategy specific to Nassau County’s 287(g) enforcement. With office at 195 Montague St in Brooklyn, we’re accessible to Nassau County residents, understand local courts, know the judges, prosecutors. Your family’s future facing aggressive enforcement requires attorneys who know how to fight back.

212-300-5196