Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman pledged to hire more police and expand collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in his Long Island community if Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race next week.
“The Nassau County Police Department will be ready to combat the chaos created by a Mamdani administration in NYC,” he said in an Instagram post.
Mr. Blakeman made the pledge to coax New Yorkers and their businesses to suburban Nassau County if the Democratic front-runner is elected.
The Republican said his economic development team is meeting with employers who want to relocate.
This move, first reported by the New York Post, is a part of a reelection strategy as the incumbent faces Democratic challenger Seth Koslow.
Earlier this year, the Nassau County Police Department signed an agreement to work with ICE, in which 10 police detectives are “cross-designated” as ICE agents. The county would also provide jail cells for ICE to temporarily hold detainees, according to reports.
It is unclear how the county would increase its ICE partnership.
Mr. Mamdani, the Democratic socialist nominee and front-runner in New York City’s mayoral race, faces an independent bid from ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.