Federal immigration enforcement activity is increasing across Long Island, triggering concern and fear among immigrant communities from Nassau to Suffolk counties.

Amid fears of ICE encounters, tensions were already high in New Cassel. The stress boiled over Tuesday afternoon when a vehicle carrying federal agents got into a car crash.

Nassau County police say a vehicle with federal agents got into a minor accident with another vehicle on Prospect Avenue around 1:30 p.m.

Police say there were two minor injuries as a result of the accident.

At first, Nassau County police told News 12 that the agents involved were not working for ICE and in town on an unrelated investigation.

After multiple attempts to get information, ICE confirmed to News 12 hours later that its agents were involved in the crash.

Late Tuesday night, an ICE spokesperson released the following statement:

"On the afternoon of June 10, 2025, ​ICE Homeland Security Investigations Long Island personnel were conducting an operation associated to an ongoing federal investigation. During the operation special agents were confronted by multiple anti-law enforcement agitators, which prohibited the enforcement action. ICE HSI personnel departed the location and, shortly thereafter, a member of the law enforcement team was involved in a motor-vehicle collision. The involved parties were subsequently surrounded by these agitators before the law enforcement officer was removed from the scene.

Both the special agent and the second vehicle's motorist were transported to hospital(s) for further examination.

This operation did not involve the nearby school, and did not involve a vehicle pursuit.

For the safety of our personnel, ICE HSI will not provide additional comment at this time."

News 12 followed up with Nassau County police who say the agents on scene identified themselves to Nassau police as Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI, agents and not as ICE.

Both HSI and ICE are under the Department of Homeland Security.

News of the crash involving federal agents caused fear among neighbors in the area.

One father said his daughters can't stop crying because they were scared and confused.

"I have to get out from my job to come here and pick them up and look at them," he said." "It's not right."

Some residents say they heard federal agents were in the area before the crash confirmed their presence. They say that people are afraid to go outside.

Darinel Velazquez, of Westbury, says fear and anxiety in the community is already high.

"The corner stores are empty. The delis are dry. People are not at the barbershops,” he said. “The indirect result is you're even hurting the local businesses."

Kelvin De Jesus opened the Prospect Barber Shop eight months ago. He said he’s seen a steep decline in clients coming.

"The amount of people coming in has gone down, it's gone down a lot recently,” he said. “You even see in the street that there aren't many people."

A nearby bodega employee, who asked to not be identified, said he has also noticed a lot less foot traffic.

"We used to have much more traffic coming in and out of the business, but since the ICE came out, we have less business,” he said.

A statement from the Westbury Union Free School District said, "The district has been made aware of reports of suspected ICE officials in our community. However, at no point this week, or any other week, have ICE officials requested entry to any of our district buildings or been on school grounds."

Videos taken in Bellport Tuesday morning show a community activist confronting what appears to be federal immigration agents. The activist is heard asking,“Do you have a judicial warrant to be here?" and “Why are you terrorizing our community?”

Additional footage appears to show Suffolk County police officers working alongside federal agents. In Riverhead, plainclothes officers were seen stationed outside the local fire department. Town officials confirmed these individuals were not part of any local agency but declined to specify their affiliation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acknowledged operations are ongoing across Long Island but would not disclose specific neighborhoods or targets. The agency stated that its mission is focused on removing individuals who have committed crimes or otherwise violated immigration laws.

Erika Padilla, of OLA of Eastern Long Island, reported that at least one individual in East Hampton was detained by immigration authorities. She and others have been visiting community gathering spots to monitor for ICE activity and check on residents.

“We are going to the spots they usually meet, like where people go to buy food,” Padilla said. “We are checking to see if we can spot ICE in this area.”

Meanwhile, at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Riverhead, a usually bustling food pantry now sits unusually well-stocked—an indicator, according to church leaders, of how many people are staying away out of fear.

Father Larry Duncklee, the church’s pastor, confirmed that pantry visits have dropped drastically.

“We probably had something close to 150 people come every week for food. Now we’re down to like ten a week,” he said. “They’re afraid to come here.”

Fr. Duncklee encouraged those in need to call the church if they are too afraid to come in person—volunteers will deliver food directly to them.

Suffolk County officials reiterated that county police officers do not check immigration status.

However, they may provide traffic support or logistical assistance to federal agents. A county spokesperson noted that Suffolk is not a sanctuary county.

Rep. Nick LaLota released a statement, saying, "ICE officers do a dangerous and often thankless job apprehending individuals who are unlawfully present in our country. I hope that—unlike what we’ve seen in places like Los Angeles—local governments here in Suffolk cooperate with ICE, and that our residents respect, not impede, their mission to enforce immigration laws. These are bipartisan laws passed in Washington, designed to keep our communities safe and uphold the credibility of America’s legal immigration process."

"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."