East Hampton officials reassure wealthy residents that officers wont deport illegal migrant maids, landscapers and nannies

East Hampton government officials are trying to quell wealthy residents’ fears that local police could deport illegal migrants from the tony town — many of whom work as maids, landscapers, and nannies to support the luxurious lifestyles of the well-off locals.Village and town leaders held a special community meeting on Tuesday to assure citizens of Long Island’s exclusive nabe — where the median property value is $2 million — that their hired help are not on their radar when it comes to deportation. East Hampton Village Police Chief Jeffrey Erickson stressed that local law enforcement do not have authority to enforce federal law — and won’t hold onto undocumented immigrants if given an ICE detainer.“If it is an ICE detainer or an administrative warrant, we do not have the authority, we will not hold them,” Erickson told a concerned resident, according to the East Hampton Star.The sentiment was echoed by East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo at a separate meeting.“Our level of participation and cooperation with ICE lies in criminal matters,” Sarlo told the town board at a meeting Tuesday.

“I haven’t seen an ICE agent in this town in I can’t tell you how long.”“You see what I’m wearing here,” Sarlo said dramatically pointing to his firearm, “People who wear this and put this on don’t interfere with other people who wear this and put this on because then people die.You don’t step in front of an Immigration Enforcement officer in uniform with a gun and a badge who’s taking his action.”“That’s for attorneys to get involved in and that is for policies and procedures through the state to get involved,” he added.Some East Hampton residents were grateful for the reassurance that their undocumented employees and neighbors will be able to avoid deportation.“I think it’s a very good idea and very helpful considering we have a very large community here, and people rely on them,” Alex Lovett, of East Hampton, to...