U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded its footprint in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Reporting from WIRED reveals that ICE has an existing office in New Windsor in Orange County – one of more than 150 leases and office expansions WIRED reports is part of ICE’s growing enforcement activities.
Town of New Windsor Supervisor Stephen Bedetti said he had no idea that there was any ICE presence in the town.
“I was not aware of it, didn’t know it was there, had no clue,” Bedetti told Radio Catskill.
New Windsor’s ICE office is located at 843 Union Avenue about two miles from Stewart International Airport and 30 minutes from a proposed ICE facility in the Village of Chester. Thousands of people have opposed the proposed facility at the former Pep Boys warehouse, with bipartisan support from county lawmakers opposing the plans. Bedetti said he also opposed the facility.
READ: “Please Stay Away”: Chester Supervisor Pushes Back Against Proposed ICE Facility
Bedetti said he spoke with Martin Reisman, the New Windsor office’s property owner, who confirmed that the building had a General Services Administration (GSA) contract with ICE that’s been operating out of the building for more than four months.
The property is currently owned by Windsor Commons LLC based in Monsey. Radio Catskill reached out to Reisman who did not return our phone calls.
Bedetti said that ICE is allowed to rent office space in New Windsor so long as the agency operates within town codes. He visited the building on Tuesday evening, Bedetti says, where it was quiet: he saw mostly cubicles, vacant office space, and excessive surveillance.
“I will tell you, there’s an inordinate amount of cameras on the outside and the inside of the building, too,” said Bedetti. He said he spoke with an ICE attorney at the New Windsor office, who described the office as “nothing but all lawyer offices.”
Congressmember Pat Ryan said on Wednesday that ICE’s increased presence in New Windsor was done without any local or federal cooperation.
He’s demanded more information from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security about the purpose of the office spaces. Ryan is demanding a response from the federal government by February 20.
“Your agency promised to focus on deporting violent criminals. Instead, we’re seeing innocent civilians harassed, children separated from families, and constitutional violations including warrantless home entries. Now ICE is quietly expanding its footprint in Orange County without consulting the people who live here,” said Ryan in his statement. “This is not how agencies operate in a democracy. The Hudson Valley will not stand for it.”
Supervisor Bedetti says he’ll be keeping an eye on any potential activities other than intended office space use and notified the other building tenants to call him if they see unusual activity.
“Listen, I’m not stupid. At the end of the day, are these folks gonna call me up and tell [me]? I didn’t even know [ICE was] there. They’re certainly not gonna call me and tell me if they use it for a different use,” said Bedetti.
WIRED reports that ICE is expanding to two other offices within an hour and a half from the proposed Chester facility in Roseland, New Jersey and Woodbury, New York in Long Island.
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes available.
Image: Street view of 843 Union Avenue in Windsor, New York (Photo Credit: Google Maps)
Chester NY not Chester NJ
I stand with ICE
When this is over we’ll be coming for all you Nazis. Just like they came for the nazis after world war 2. You’ll have nowhere to hide.
Me too
NOT IN OUR COUNTY!!!
Jobs,Jobs,Jobs 👍
Thanks for this excellent coverage. Our community will not stand for this use mean-spirited use of our tax dollars. History will judge this administration badly and hopefully we can survive it without more hardship and bloodshed.