New York — Marlene Martinez was at work while her husband stayed home to watch their baby. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents pushed their way into the family’s home, flipped mattresses, kicked out doors and locks, and then arrested Mr. Martinez.

In the mayhem, the ICE agents abandoned the couple’s 4 month-old infant in the home, alone, for several hours.

According to a story appearing in the Oct. 15, 2007 edition of The Militant, ICE agents were backed up by Nassau and Suffolk county police, and arrested 186 immigrant workers between September 24 - 27, 2007. Most of the raids took place in single family homes in the towns of Hempstead, Westbury, Hicksville, Port Washington, Brentwood, Central Islip, and Huntington.

Immigrant supporters held a protest rally on September 27 demanding that authorities stop terrorizing families and breaking families apart. The protest leaders called for an end to the raids. A day after the protest, Nassau County police commissioner, Lawrence Mulvey said that his department would no longer cooperate with the ICE due to a lack of communication.

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