Early this morning, Peekskill Police Department Chief Dylewski was informed federal agencies including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were in the City looking for an individual with a criminal record. Our Police Department had no role in this operation.
Residents should be aware that the Peekskill Police Department’s own regulations, consistent with New York State and Westchester County law, prohibit members of the police department from engaging in law enforcement activities solely for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law, unless required to do so by a judicial warrant or other federal law.
The Peekskill Police Department’s regulations comply with all Federal, State and local laws and have the interest of ALL residents at the center of its policies.
What’s most important to me as Mayor and as a lifelong resident of Peekskill is that each and every one of our residents regardless of race, creed or national origin know they are safe in our City. Immigrants are an important part of this city. We are a community that values diversity and the rights of all people. We all share a common humanity that must be respected and valued.
For more information about your rights, please visit the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (www.ilrc.org). If you are interested in helping others understand their rights, please look at the red card on their website. www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas
As your Mayor, I sincerely hope ICE remains focused on enforcement actions related to violent and serious criminals harming our city, not neighbors who are contributing and law-abiding members of our community.
