U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are being evicted from the Nassau County Correctional Center, but while County Executive Laura Curran stands by the move, other Nassau leaders believe it will make it more difficult to protect the public.

Nassau law enforcement members blasted Curran's order for ICE to exit a trailer at the county jail, calling it "soft on crime."

The county is asking ICE to leave the jail after the state Supreme Court ruled in November that it's illegal for ICE to hold prisoners who would otherwise be released. But Republicans say that doesn't mean ICE should be removed.

"The decision did not state that the county, including staff and our correctional facility, can no longer cooperate with ICE, including handing over inmates, who, for example, are known members of gangs," says Nassau Legislature Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello.

Curran issued a statement that says in part: "Removing ICE from the trailer gives us the opportunity to eliminate confusion in the immigrant community and demonstrate that inmates are there for crimes. This strengthens our community policing model."

Immigration attorney Patrick Young agrees with Curran, saying the move will enhance public safety.

"The presence of ICE trailers at the county jail had created the impression in the immigrant communities that the police were working hand in glove with ICE," Young says. "It's very important that the police establish trust with the immigrant community."

But some residents say they want ICE to stay. Bob Porter, of Syosset, says he thinks immigration needs to be controlled, and ICE's presence is the only way to do it.

Six ICE officials are expected to leave the trailer by the end of the month.