February 5, 2025 • 8 mins
Mendte in the Morning talks to Bruce Blakeman about the start of ICE raids in New York. Bruce discusses what he and his community are doing to support ICE.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We have a lot to talk to NASA County Executive
Bruce Blakeman about. Let's start with that when we talk
about congestion pricing. Sir, thanks for joining us today, by
the way, good.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Morning, Thank you, Larry.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Hey, Bruce, how do you think a phone call between
Donald Trump and Kathy Hochel goes? Does she have any
sway at all and trying to talk them out of
canceling or trying to cancel congestion pricing.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, I think that he will be respectful and he
will listen to her, but I'm not sure it will
change his policy. I don't think it should change anybody's
policy of posing congestion pricing. Congestion pricing is nothing more
than a tax on the middle class. It's a tax
on working family, It's attacks on students, first responders. And
(00:50):
why do people have to pay nine dollars for the
privilege of driving on a public highway they've already paid for.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah. I love the fact that he says, look, I'll
talk with anybody. I'll talk with everybody. It doesn't mean
I'm going to do what they ask me to do.
But here's the question, exactly what could he do?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well? The state receives billions of dollars in federal transportation
doubt in federal transportation grants and funding, so he can
cancel that and that would be a tremendous hit on
the MTA and the transportation network of the state. So
he does have quite a bit of leverage. But I
(01:32):
just think it's a terrible policy that Governor Holko has
instituted and its attacks, as I said, on hardworking people,
and it's not right, sir.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I really appreciate what you're doing with ICE in your community,
in your county. A lot of people are pushing back
against them. Some people are trying to tiptoe a line
and just go after violent federal criminals, but not help
them with everything. It sounds to me like you're all
in and you're helping them with whatever they want at
(02:02):
this point. Is that right?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, basically, what we're doing is we're cross designating and
embedding ten detectives who will help them round up illegal
immigrants who have committed crimes. We're not doing raids, we're
not going in churches and schools. It's none of the
democratic hype and fear monitoring that you're hearing. It's nothing
(02:28):
like that. I mean, who would be against removing criminals
from neighborhoods. It's bizarre the opposition to this, And most
people in my county want our police to cooperate with Ice.
They don't want illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, and
some of the crimes are very serious. We have a
legal immigrant who was trying to smuggle into the county
(02:50):
enough fentinel to kill everybody on Long Island, that's three
million people. We have an illegal migrant who raped a
five year old girl. We have an illegal migrant who
went to a Jewish neighborhood and committed a hate crime there.
So you know, I don't know why reasonable people with
common sense would be against this. I think most people,
(03:12):
the vast majority of people, want these people removed and
detained or deported. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I have been fascinated, County Executive Blakeman. I've been fascinated
by the reaction to this because at first, you're right,
they were blasting this, you're not coming into my city,
You're not going to do it on my streets. But
then what happened was the public rose up. I mean,
Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, he could face losing
(03:41):
his job, over this, the whole city has turned against him.
So I think not only have politicians, but the media
has quieted down a little bit because this is exactly
what the people want, and in your community. I'm sure
you're hearing that from the people in Nasa.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
County, especially hearing it from the Hispanic American communities and
the African American communities and the Asian American communities. It's
a total falsehood that these communities are in favor of
illegal migrants who commit crimes in their neighborhoods. They want
them out. And every day when I travel around the county,
(04:21):
people come up to me and they say, you're doing
the right thing. We don't want these people in our neighborhood.
They're committing crimes and they don't belong here.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, I've seen the polls the exactly what you're talking about.
It's about seventy two percent of people who are here
in this country illegally are saying that upholsters. This is
what I tried to get away from, and you're allowing
it to come here. They absolutely are against it. Exactly
what you're hearing in Nasa County is what is happening
(04:50):
all across the country. The one thing Tom Homan has
been clear that he wants, and this is what he's
not getting support of across the country, especially in sanctuary
cities and sanctuary states. Is he is asking for access
to the jails. Are you giving that to him?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yes, yes, we're providing up to fifty jail cells to
Ice for temporary detention. And I think Director Holman is
doing a great job. President Trump, I think has been
amazing with his employments Cash Battel, Christine and Pambondi, Pete
Heigsas and Director Homan. They're all serious about protecting our
(05:33):
communities and protecting our country. And it's, as I said before,
bizarre that there would be people that would oppose this.
We all want safer communities, So our Sheriff's department will
provide those jail cells. And we got a lot of
empty jail cells because of the progressive, woke policies that
(05:54):
favor criminals over victims here in New York State with
cashust bail and raise the age and all the other
crazy laws that they enacted. I don't know why legislators
and the governor of this state are so pro criminal.
You never hear him talking about the victims. They're always
talking about criminal rights. It's just counterintuitive to common sense.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
No, being woke is a mental disease. And I don't
understand it either, because the cold hard facts are that
this hasn't worked. Was it never worked from the beginning.
I want to play something that Tom Holman said about
sanctuary cities and get your reaction.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Sanctuary cities are sanctuary for criminals. One example, right if
the young sanctuary cities in New York City, if they
would have gave us over the killer of Lake and
Riley when he got the rest in New York City
for dangerous child, he would have been in jail and
he would never killed Lake and Riley. Sanctuary cities are
responsible for deaths of thousands, thousands of young children throughout
(06:55):
my career. And we're going soon, we're going home, and
look we've got going to Supreme Court. That's what President
Trump wanted to do. He will and sanctuary cities.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I there was some news in that he says we're
going to sue them. I guess the Trump Justice Department,
as soon as Bondi gets into her seat and arranges
her desk, is going to file a lawsuit against cities
and states that have sanctuary city status.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Your reaction, well, they're breaking the law. They should sue them.
They should sue them, and they should prosecute them for
obstructing justice. The fact of the matter is, we have
laws on the books that haven't been enforced for four years.
And when President Trump got elected, he said, we're going
to enforce the laws. What a novel idea. We're going
to enforce the laws. So I have to tell you,
(07:39):
we're the first county that has comprehensively cooperated with ICE.
We're certainly the largest county that is cooperated with ICE.
And I made it clear from day one when I
came into office that we were not a sanctuary county.
And that's why US News and Rael Reports says where
the safest county America. That why Niche Magazine says we're
(08:01):
the most desirable place to live in New York State
because we keep our community safe and we've got a
great police department, We've got a great police commissioner, and
our people are out there doing the job. And when
the federal government asks us to partner with them to
make our county safer, we would be nuts not to
do it.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
That's why you're popular in NASA County and NASA County
Executive Bruce Blakeman, real quick, any any ambitions of being governor.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
My ambition is to get reelected and continue in the
greatest job I've ever had serving the people of Nassau County.
And we'll let you know whatever happens in the future.
A lot of things can happen in two years. Right now,
I love my job and i want to get re elected,
so I'm not going to take my eye off the.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Ball, absolutely, but you'd be great at it. Thanks a lot,
Bruce Blakeman, NASA County Executive. Have a good day.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Thanks Larry,
We have a lot to talk to NASA County Executive
Bruce Blakeman about. Let's start with that when we talk
about congestion pricing. Sir, thanks for joining us today, by
the way, good.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Morning, Thank you, Larry.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Hey, Bruce, how do you think a phone call between
Donald Trump and Kathy Hochel goes? Does she have any
sway at all and trying to talk them out of
canceling or trying to cancel congestion pricing.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, I think that he will be respectful and he
will listen to her, but I'm not sure it will
change his policy. I don't think it should change anybody's
policy of posing congestion pricing. Congestion pricing is nothing more
than a tax on the middle class. It's a tax
on working family, It's attacks on students, first responders. And
(00:50):
why do people have to pay nine dollars for the
privilege of driving on a public highway they've already paid for.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah. I love the fact that he says, look, I'll
talk with anybody. I'll talk with everybody. It doesn't mean
I'm going to do what they ask me to do.
But here's the question, exactly what could he do?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well? The state receives billions of dollars in federal transportation
doubt in federal transportation grants and funding, so he can
cancel that and that would be a tremendous hit on
the MTA and the transportation network of the state. So
he does have quite a bit of leverage. But I
(01:32):
just think it's a terrible policy that Governor Holko has
instituted and its attacks, as I said, on hardworking people,
and it's not right, sir.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I really appreciate what you're doing with ICE in your community,
in your county. A lot of people are pushing back
against them. Some people are trying to tiptoe a line
and just go after violent federal criminals, but not help
them with everything. It sounds to me like you're all
in and you're helping them with whatever they want at
(02:02):
this point. Is that right?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, basically, what we're doing is we're cross designating and
embedding ten detectives who will help them round up illegal
immigrants who have committed crimes. We're not doing raids, we're
not going in churches and schools. It's none of the
democratic hype and fear monitoring that you're hearing. It's nothing
(02:28):
like that. I mean, who would be against removing criminals
from neighborhoods. It's bizarre the opposition to this, And most
people in my county want our police to cooperate with Ice.
They don't want illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, and
some of the crimes are very serious. We have a
legal immigrant who was trying to smuggle into the county
(02:50):
enough fentinel to kill everybody on Long Island, that's three
million people. We have an illegal migrant who raped a
five year old girl. We have an illegal migrant who
went to a Jewish neighborhood and committed a hate crime there.
So you know, I don't know why reasonable people with
common sense would be against this. I think most people,
(03:12):
the vast majority of people, want these people removed and
detained or deported. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I have been fascinated, County Executive Blakeman. I've been fascinated
by the reaction to this because at first, you're right,
they were blasting this, you're not coming into my city,
You're not going to do it on my streets. But
then what happened was the public rose up. I mean,
Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, he could face losing
(03:41):
his job, over this, the whole city has turned against him.
So I think not only have politicians, but the media
has quieted down a little bit because this is exactly
what the people want, and in your community. I'm sure
you're hearing that from the people in Nasa.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
County, especially hearing it from the Hispanic American communities and
the African American communities and the Asian American communities. It's
a total falsehood that these communities are in favor of
illegal migrants who commit crimes in their neighborhoods. They want
them out. And every day when I travel around the county,
(04:21):
people come up to me and they say, you're doing
the right thing. We don't want these people in our neighborhood.
They're committing crimes and they don't belong here.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, I've seen the polls the exactly what you're talking about.
It's about seventy two percent of people who are here
in this country illegally are saying that upholsters. This is
what I tried to get away from, and you're allowing
it to come here. They absolutely are against it. Exactly
what you're hearing in Nasa County is what is happening
(04:50):
all across the country. The one thing Tom Homan has
been clear that he wants, and this is what he's
not getting support of across the country, especially in sanctuary
cities and sanctuary states. Is he is asking for access
to the jails. Are you giving that to him?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yes, yes, we're providing up to fifty jail cells to
Ice for temporary detention. And I think Director Holman is
doing a great job. President Trump, I think has been
amazing with his employments Cash Battel, Christine and Pambondi, Pete
Heigsas and Director Homan. They're all serious about protecting our
(05:33):
communities and protecting our country. And it's, as I said before,
bizarre that there would be people that would oppose this.
We all want safer communities, So our Sheriff's department will
provide those jail cells. And we got a lot of
empty jail cells because of the progressive, woke policies that
(05:54):
favor criminals over victims here in New York State with
cashust bail and raise the age and all the other
crazy laws that they enacted. I don't know why legislators
and the governor of this state are so pro criminal.
You never hear him talking about the victims. They're always
talking about criminal rights. It's just counterintuitive to common sense.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
No, being woke is a mental disease. And I don't
understand it either, because the cold hard facts are that
this hasn't worked. Was it never worked from the beginning.
I want to play something that Tom Holman said about
sanctuary cities and get your reaction.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Sanctuary cities are sanctuary for criminals. One example, right if
the young sanctuary cities in New York City, if they
would have gave us over the killer of Lake and
Riley when he got the rest in New York City
for dangerous child, he would have been in jail and
he would never killed Lake and Riley. Sanctuary cities are
responsible for deaths of thousands, thousands of young children throughout
(06:55):
my career. And we're going soon, we're going home, and
look we've got going to Supreme Court. That's what President
Trump wanted to do. He will and sanctuary cities.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I there was some news in that he says we're
going to sue them. I guess the Trump Justice Department,
as soon as Bondi gets into her seat and arranges
her desk, is going to file a lawsuit against cities
and states that have sanctuary city status.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Your reaction, well, they're breaking the law. They should sue them.
They should sue them, and they should prosecute them for
obstructing justice. The fact of the matter is, we have
laws on the books that haven't been enforced for four years.
And when President Trump got elected, he said, we're going
to enforce the laws. What a novel idea. We're going
to enforce the laws. So I have to tell you,
(07:39):
we're the first county that has comprehensively cooperated with ICE.
We're certainly the largest county that is cooperated with ICE.
And I made it clear from day one when I
came into office that we were not a sanctuary county.
And that's why US News and Rael Reports says where
the safest county America. That why Niche Magazine says we're
(08:01):
the most desirable place to live in New York State
because we keep our community safe and we've got a
great police department, We've got a great police commissioner, and
our people are out there doing the job. And when
the federal government asks us to partner with them to
make our county safer, we would be nuts not to
do it.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
That's why you're popular in NASA County and NASA County
Executive Bruce Blakeman, real quick, any any ambitions of being governor.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
My ambition is to get reelected and continue in the
greatest job I've ever had serving the people of Nassau County.
And we'll let you know whatever happens in the future.
A lot of things can happen in two years. Right now,
I love my job and i want to get re elected,
so I'm not going to take my eye off the.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Ball, absolutely, but you'd be great at it. Thanks a lot,
Bruce Blakeman, NASA County Executive. Have a good day.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Thanks Larry,
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