The vice president of the New York State Assembly and Dean of the Long Island delegation, Phil Ramos, issued a powerful statement after the dissemination of a disturbing video in which ICE agents (immigration and customs control service) harass a Latin American citizenElzon Lemus, without any cause or justification.
“They sent me a deeply disturbing video that urges each American to see,” said Ramos. “In him, a Latin American citizen,” Lemus is harassed by ICE agents while simply lives in Long Island. He was arrested without provocation, without explanation and without a court order. The only justification offered? That ‘looked like someone’ they were looking for. That is not to enforce the law. That is racial, clear and simple profile ».
Ramos, Exoficial and Detective with more than 20 years of service in the forces of the order, emphasized that these types of actions are not only illegal, but also represent a direct threat to civil rights enshrined in the Constitution.
“As a policeman, I know exactly how a legal police action is seen – and this was not,” he said. «Under the Law of New York, no one is obliged to identify before the Police unless there is a probable cause. In this case, ICE had none. Open the door of a car without consent, register a citizen for no reason and refuse to identify – that is not protecting the public. That is a police state ».
Ramos strongly criticized the Trump administration, noting that this incident reflects a “racialized” repression strategy that continues to sow fear and distrust between immigrant and Latin communities.
“This is another example of the abuse of power by the Trump administration, using ICE as a weapon to infuse terror in our communities without supervision or accountability,” said Ramos. “Threiligating a man to know his rights is a direct attack on freedom, due process and the rule of law.”
The vice president of the Assembly demands a federal civil rights investigation into the incident, a public apology for Elzon Lemus, and disciplinary measures against the agents involved.
«In New York we do not tolerate the racial profile. We will not allow federal agents exceeding their limits, ”he continued. “Our neighborhoods will not be intimidated by how we see each other, the names we have or the languages we speak.”
Finally, Ramos made an urgent call to the New York State Legislature to approve the Law “New York for All”, a key legislation that would prevent local authorities from acting as immigration agents.
“What happened to Elzon Lemus should never happen in a democracy,” said Phil Ramos. «We sympathize with him. With our communities. And with the Constitution of the United States, ”he said.
