As fear and uncertainty ripple through Latino communities on the East End of Long Island in the wake of immigration enforcement rumors, OLA of Eastern Long Island is mobilizing a “rapid response” network designed to monitor and document any potential ICE actions — and to provide aid to families left behind.
The initiative, set to kick off with a Zoom-based training session on Tuesday, is not new to OLA, which organized similar efforts during the first Trump administration. But executive director Minerva Perez said this version is broader, safer and more community-centered — with trained volunteers ready to document possible enforcement actions and assist impacted families.
“We want to make it as simple, safe, and effective as possible,” Perez said, emphasizing that the focus is on observation and support — not confrontation. “You’re not going to get in the face of anyone. You’re not going to touch anyone. You’re just going to document.”
Volunteers will be vetted and trained to gather visual evidence, note license plate numbers, and send real-time updates via WhatsApp to OLA’s 24-hour hotline. Perez said that even small details — such as seeing a child left behind at the scene — can help OLA staff intervene quickly and potentially prevent traumatic family separations.
The effort also includes encouraging immigrant families to prepare “emergency plans” in advance — designating contacts, arranging childcare, and identifying medication needs in the event that a family member is detained.
With reports of ICE activity across Long Island — including in Glen Cove and Westbury— community anxiety is high. Yet according to local law enforcement, there have been no confirmed ICE sightings on the North Fork this month.
While many recent reports have turned out to be false alarms, Perez said even the fear of a raid has had a chilling effect: fewer Latino children attending school, diminished visibility in public spaces and workers adjusting routines to avoid perceived risk.
The Latino population on the North Fork is significant. While the 2025 U.S. Census figures are not yet available, OLA estimates that at least a quarter of the East End’s population is Latino. Latino students comprise about 62% of Riverhead students and nearly 34% of Southold students.
The organization’s goal, Perez said, is not just to protect individual rights, but to deter indiscriminate enforcement actions altogether through visibility and vigilance.
“If we have enough people, it could actually maybe be a deterrent to indiscriminate raids,” she said. “Because if agents know people are watching — documenting — they may think twice.”
OLA’s team will track and archive all submitted reports town by town, potentially helping reconnect families or identify missing individuals. “If you’ve got people masked and unidentifiable taking someone, that’s not enforcement,” Perez said. “That’s abduction.”
For now, the Zoom training is the first step in what Perez called “a new kind of preparedness,” aimed at protecting both the physical safety and emotional stability of immigrant families woven deeply into the fabric of the East End.
“Our community members are not outsiders,” she said. “They are the heart of this place. And we’re not going to let that heart be ripped out without bearing witness.”