Tensions Flare After ICE Agents Train At Long Island Rifle Range

Core Viewpoint - Tensions are escalating in Suffolk County, particularly in the Town of Islip, due to ICE agents training at a local rifle range under a five-year contract with the Department of Homeland Security, which has drawn criticism from community members and local officials [1][5][6]. Contract Details - The training session is part of a five-year contract that began on July 1, 2021, and will run through June 30, 2026, with a current award amount of $63,000 and an outlayed amount of $22,725 [6][7]. Community Response - Local officials, including Assemblyman Phil Ramos and Councilman Jorge Guadrón, have expressed disappointment and concern over the training, particularly given the community's high concentration of Hispanic taxpayers [9][10]. - Islip Forward, a community empowerment organization, has criticized ICE for using the taxpayer-funded range for training that they believe prepares agents for raids, calling for the termination of the contract [14][15]. Official Statements - Islip officials clarified that the use of the rifle range by ICE for training has been a practice since at least the early 2000s, emphasizing that it is for training, qualification, and certification purposes only [11][12]. - Officials also stated that politicizing the issue could lead to increased distrust in law enforcement within vulnerable communities [13].