🚨 Advocates Decry ICE Raids After Man Allegedly Pinned by Vehicle in Westhampton

🚨 Advocates Decry ICE Raids After Man Allegedly Pinned by Vehicle in Westhampton

By Samantha Vogel, Editor, Long Island Daily News

A series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across eastern Long Island this week has sparked widespread concern among immigrant rights groups, following a disturbing incident in Westhampton where Edgar Tezen, 35, was allegedly pinned under an ICE vehicle during his arrest.

The incident occurred Wednesday morning, November 5, outside a 7-Eleven in Westhampton Beach, where ICE agents were conducting a sweep targeting undocumented migrants. According to witnesses and Tezen’s attorney, Melinda Rubin, Tezen attempted to flee when agents approached. As he ran, an ICE vehicle reportedly rolled forward and trapped part of his leg beneath a tire, causing visible injuries.

📹 Video Raises Questions

A video shared by advocacy group Islip Forward and posted to social media appears to show Tezen on the ground, partially under the vehicle, as agents stand nearby. The footage has not been independently verified, but it has prompted calls for an investigation into ICE’s use of force.

Rubin told Newsday, “The vehicle did not fully stop. It kept rolling forward and pinned Edgar’s leg. He was terrified, and now he’s hospitalized.” ICE has not commented publicly on the video but confirmed Tezen’s arrest.

🗣️ Community Reaction

Local leaders and immigrant advocates say the raids are creating “fear and chaos” in communities across Suffolk County. Within five hours on Wednesday, eight arrests were documented in Hampton Bays and Westhampton Beach, including one inside a Colombian bakery where agents reportedly entered with guns drawn.

State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni (D–Sag Harbor) condemned the raids, saying, “Thousands across the country are being snatched off the streets without due process. What happened in Westhampton is unacceptable and demands accountability”.

🧊 ICE Enforcement Under Scrutiny

ICE maintains that its operations are lawful and targeted, but critics argue that the tactics used—especially in public spaces—are traumatizing families and undermining trust in law enforcement. Advocates are calling for:

• Independent review of the Westhampton incident
• Public release of bodycam footage and arrest records
• Moratorium on raids near schools and businesses
• Support services for affected families

🕯️ A Community on Edge

Tezen remains hospitalized, and his legal team is preparing to file a civil rights complaint. Meanwhile, immigrant families in the East End are reportedly staying home from work and school out of fear.

“This isn’t just about one man,” said Osman Canales, a local organizer. “It’s about how we treat people in our community. Edgar could’ve been anyone’s neighbor.”

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