Overview

• State Sen. Julia Salazar and Assembly member Michaelle Solages were initially denied entry to the ICE cells at Nassau County Jail before completing a tour of the East Meadow facility.
• Lawmakers said they encountered detainees held beyond the three-day transfer limit without access to showers or outdoor activity.
• County Executive Bruce Blakeman countered there is no evidence of over-detention and announced that showers will now be provided while defending the per-diem arrangement as essential for public safety.
• Since early 2025, Nassau County has processed over 1,400 immigrants under an agreement setting aside 50 jail cells and earning $195 per detainee each night from the federal government.
• Salazar’s Dignity Not Detention bill would bar local ICE contracts and Democratic lawmakers plan tighter inspections to enforce transfer timelines and detainee welfare.