ICE Speaks Out On 3 Men Detained In Greenport

NORTH FORK, NY — ICE has spoken out about three men detained in Greenport Wednesday.

In a statement to Patch, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman responded to questions about the incident.

"The fact is on Feb. 4, ICE New York City conducted operations targeting a known criminal illegal alien convicted of aggravated DWI with a child/passenger less than 16 — a felony in Greenport. During that operation, ICE officers arrested three illegal aliens, one who was previously removed in 1998 and illegally reentered, committing a felony, and all in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Violating immigration laws is a crime and carries consequences, which includes arrest, detention, and removal from the United States," the statement said.

According to ICE, "Martir Zambrano-Diaz, an illegal alien from Honduras, provided a false name to ICE officers in an attempt to obscure the fact that he committed a felony and is subject to federal prosecution for illegally re-entering the U.S. after removal."

Hugo Ardon-Osorio, "an illegal alien from Guatemala, and Alexandro Rivera-Magana, an illegal alien from El Salvador, both admitted they illegally crossed the border with Mexico in violation of U.S. immigration law," ICE said.

The statement continued: "President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal aliens to walk freely on U.S. streets. ICE will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing alien offenders from the U.S. Collateral arrests of illegal aliens encountered during targeted enforcement actions are consistent with ICE’s mission to uphold the integrity of our immigration system. Those who are in our country illegally have a choice — they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported. The United States taxpayer is generously offering free flights and a $2,600 stipend to illegal aliens who self-deport using the CBP Home app. If they leave now, they preserve the potential opportunity to come back the legal, right way. The choice is theirs."

Minerva Perez, executive director of OLA of Eastern Long Island, a Latino-focused advocacy group, responded to ICE's statement: "The two men that we have been focusing on have no criminal backgrounds," she said. "If ICE wants to use civil infractions as their definition of 'criminal,' that's up to them. What we see are caring, loving, contributing members of our community — taxpayers and great role models for our community."

Meanwhile, the community has been rallying to help the families of three Greenport men who were detained by ICE Wednesday morning. A rally and community protest was also held Sunday in the village. The event Sunday was held both near Mitchell Park and also at the North Fork Arts Center.

Also on Sunday ICE agents were reportedly spotted in Southold at the Feather Hill shopping plaza, and in both Riverside and Riverhead locations. Perez said that she did not believe anyone had been detained during those ICE efforts.

ICE agents sparked a new wave of fear and vigilance on the North Fork as an ICE presence was reported at various locations in Greenport Village.

Perez told Patch Wednesday that three men, Alexandro Rivera Magana, Martir Zambrano Diaz, and Hugo Leonel Ardon Osorio, "have been taken from what we believe to be an ICE raid this morning. We need to bring these men home."

On Friday, Perez updated Patch and said OLA had been in touch with all three men's families. "We have done legal assessments of where these gentlemen might have strong cases," she said. "We are taking next steps on that."

And, she said, "We know where they physically are, which is good."

Southold police also issued a statement after the ICE presence in Greenport: "The Southold Police Department is aware of the ICE enforcement activity that took place in Greenport Village on February 4. The Southold Police Department does not enforce immigration law and was not involved in this ICE enforcement activity in any way," police said.

"Be assured that when you need the services of the Southold Police Department, you can call for assistance without fear, regardless of your immigration status. Department policy prohibits officers of the Southold Police Department from inquiring about the immigration status of any person when they are a victim, witness or seeking assistance," police said.

The statement added: "The Southold Police Department patrols in marked Southold Town police vehicles and officers wear distinctive Southold Town police uniforms. Readily identifiable and friendly, our officers serve everyone in town and no one should fear approaching them for help."
Others are joining forces to help the families left behind — and to rally in the hopes of bringing the three men home.

Anita Boyer, who has been organizing "ICE Out" protests across the East End, posted on social media this week that she is helping to fundraise for the families left behind by two of the men who were "abducted" by agents in Greenport on Wednesday morning.

"These men were hard working, contributing members of the Greenport community for over 20 years," she said.

A Spotfund account was created for Rivera Magana's family: "Early on Wednesday, February 3, Alexandro Rivera Magaña was taken from Greenport where he resides by ICE agents," the page said. "He has a family. A son with severe autism and a 5-year-old. He is a taxpaying and important member of our community where he has lived and contributed for over 20 years."

The page added: "OLA will cover legal costs if we are able to start a case for him. The family left behind by Alexandro has immediate needs to help with food and rent because he was the financial provider of the home. Until we can get him back home, we are asking the community to do whatever they can to help his wife and two kids. All money raised goes to food and rent for this family. Everything is so deeply appreciated and we hope to be able to bring Alejandro home quickly and safely."

And, a page was also created for Ardon Osorio's family: "Early on Wednesday, February 3, Hugo Leonel Ardon Osorio, an immigrant from Guatemala, was taken by federal agents today while on his way to work. He has been a contributing member of the community in Greenport for over 20 years and has no criminal background. As the primary breadwinner of the home, his wife and their newborn baby have been left not only in terror, not knowing where he has been taken, but also the financial insecurity to buy groceries and pay their rent."

The page added that OLA will also cover legal costs if they are able to start a case for him. "Until we can get him back home, we are asking the community to do whatever they can to help his wife and newborn child. All money raised goes to food and rent for this family. Everything is so deeply appreciated and we hope to be able to bring Hugo home quickly and safely."

Of Sunday's protest, Boyer said: "The spark is growing and more people are being inspired to take action and create their own flames, which is the dream. We can only defeat this regime if we continue to encourage each other and not use ego or politics to extinguish the fire."

Residents turned to social media on Wednesday to share sightings of ICE in the community.

"We can confirm that ICE officials were in Greenport Village this morning on Ludlum Place and near the ferry terminal," Southold Town Police Chief Steve Grattan said. "There are rumors that they were in the area of the school; however, we cannot confirm if they were on school property."

"ICE does NOT target schools – FULL STOP," the ICE media representative said. "The media should focus on facts instead of continuing to promote this fear mongering narrative to smear our brave and dedicated ICE officers."

"We're definitely aware of ICE activity reported in the community — but there has been no activity on school grounds," Greenport School Superintendent Beth Doyle told Patch Wednesday. While there was a photo circulating online Wednesday morning of a pickup truck, that was actually a truck belonging to a member of the school's grounds crew, she said.

Doyle said while the district has an "open campus" for grades 7 to 12: "As a precaution and safety measure, we're keeping a closed campus today. Kids will eat lunch in school instead of going out into the community. Not as a response to any reported ICE activity at the school but as a precautionary safety measure," she said Wednesday.

Lauren Robert-Demolaize told Patch that she saw ICE agents at the North Ferry Wednesday morning at 6:40 a.m. "I was getting on the ferry and two masked officers with ERO (enforcement and removal officer) vests had a car pulled over next to the ferry dock with a man in the driver's seat. They were definitely there," she said. "All of the people on the ferry that hour of the morning are people going to work to support their families. It was very sad and scary."

Perez reported that one OLA rapid responder saw an ICE vehicle travel on the Long Island Expressway out of the area. "But we don't know where they went," she said.

Greenport Village Mayor Kevin Stuessi told Patch: "The peaceful calm of a cold morning was interrupted by federal agents in the village for several hours. I’ve spoken with each the town supervisor, school superintendent and police chief about safety concerns by residents and local students alike."

He added: "It was a very scary morning for our local students and families."

Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski told Patch that he'd spoken to Grattan a few times, and called Stuessi.

"The chief is working on official confirmation of the action there. Until we have that, we don't know more," he said Wednesday.

Krupski added: "We're here to maintain public safety. Chief Grattan sent the school resource officer to the school immediately this morning when he heard."

Krupski said he'd also spoken to Doyle, who told him the district was following the protocol followed by all schools in the area, about what to do during such an incident or when law enforcement shows up. "They're prepared to protect their students' safety," Krupski said.

In recent weeks, the public has turned out to decry ICE in the community, both at a number of vigils and protests and also at a Southold town board meeting.

A Change.org petition, "Urge Our Town Board to Condemn ICE And Protect Us From Illegal ICE Activities," was created by Seth Egan.

“We the undersigned object to the Federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies deploying armed, masked and otherwise unidentifiable agents to Southold Town, endangering and disrupting our communities," the petition said.

"We strongly urge and expect the Southold Town council and police commissioners, as our representatives who are charged with protecting and ensuring our community's public safety, to issue a public statement that not only condemns ICE's actions but commits to enforcement of violations of due process and constitutional rights of all members of our community in Southold Town," the petition reads.