Dozens of Port Washington residents and local activists on Long Island marched to the municipal dock on the afternoon of Sunday, July 27, and joined in a vigil honoring more than 60 people who organizers say have died in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or during immigration enforcement operations.
The “March and Vigil to End ICE Violence” began in Blumenfeld Park, where participants gathered before heading towards the coastal area while chanting slogans. The event concluded with a memorial ceremony that included the laying of flowers in honor of the victims, a community circle and songs performed by the group Singing Resistance of Central Long Island.
Stacey Mellus, one of the main organizers of the event, estimated that between 75 and 200 people attended, and that the crowd grew as the march progressed.
“It was a beautiful, hopeful thing,” Mellus said. “Having everyone present, feeling that solidarity and that sense of community was really wonderful.”
The event was organized by a coalition of Port Washington residents, members of a local mutual aid and rapid response network, the Port Washington Democratic Club and Singing Resistance, among others.
Mellus noted that organizers sought to draw attention to what they described as the fear and uncertainty experienced by immigrant families, as well as the impact of immigration control operations on local communities.
“We really wanted to make visible the conditions that people live in and the fear they experience, but also the cost that this has on communities,” Mellus said.
Organizers displayed photographs of people they identified as victims of ICE detentions and immigration control operations. Each person was also represented by a luminary that bore their name, the date of their death and their place of origin.
Participants placed flowers around the luminaries and gathered around an altar-like memorial, inspired by the Mexican tradition of honoring the dead.
Mellus indicated that the memorial was removed after the event, since the organizers did not want to leave anything on municipal property.
The vigil also reflected local concerns regarding immigration control operations. Mellus mentioned that Port Washington has been the scene of detentions by ICE, including the case of Fernando Mejiawho finally returned to El Salvador.
Mejía, the former manager of Schmear Bagel & Cafe in Port Washington, was detained by ICE agents upon arriving at work, in front of the establishment, in June 2025.
Mellus noted that a local rapid response network and a mutual aid group have worked to assist immigrants with paperwork, legal expenses and other needs. The group also helps connect families to food banks and other community resources.
Mellus indicated the community plans to continue its weekly Monday afternoon vigils in Port Washington, which have been held for more than a year. Organizers also use these meetings to offer residents concrete ways to help immigrant families.
Such efforts include encouraging donations to local food banks, supporting organizations that help families prepare paperwork for legal guardianship, and assisting with the payment of legal expenses. Likewise, organizers offer training so that people know their rights.
“We’re just trying to do everything we can to show our support for these families,” Mellus said. “We want to make sure people know there are ways to provide help to members of their community who need it.”
