“We’ve been seeing a lot of ICE activity in the community,” said Mariella Rivas, a community activist. Federal law enforcement officers have been seen in the Bay Shore/Brentwood area and the Huntington area, as well as Freeport and Hempstead, activists and officials confirmed to News 12.

Activists say the activity has spurred fear amid those who are undocumented and those who are in the U.S. legally.

Activists estimate that 20 people have been detained and they say they don’t know where they’ve been taken.

Pilar Moya said, “People are so scared.” Rivas said there’s a lot of stress, even “mental breakdowns.”

An ICE spokesperson issued the following statement to News 12 on Saturday:

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is executing the President’s mission of identifying and removing criminal aliens and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws. All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, regardless of nationality.

ICE New York City is actively investigating immigration crimes throughout the five boroughs, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley; but due to our operational tempo and the increased interest in our agency, we are unable to research and respond to every rumor or discuss specifics of routine daily operations.”