The Glen Cove Rapid Response Network is working to protect people from the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown that has sparked controversy across Long Island and Nassau County.
“We would like to see less racial profiling, less violence, fewer people being detained who don’t have criminal records and families not being torn apart,” Leslie Dwyer, an organizer of the Glen Cove Rapid Response Network, said. “This living fear has got to stop.”
Dwyer said the organization, which monitors, verifies and responds to ICE activity in Glen Cove and the surrounding North Shore communities, began following efforts made by other local groups at the end of 2025 in an effort to make the community aware of the federal immigration crackdown. Dwyer said organizers specifically spoke with the Port Washington Rapid Response Network about how to best serve the community.
“The Rapid Response Networks work together to share information, advice and best practices,” Dwyer said.
The Glen Cove Rapid Response Network is comprised of four different committees: an advocacy committee, an education committee, a mutual aid committe and a rapid response observer committee. Dwyer said the network has grown to roughly 50 people and that volunteers may be a part of multiple committees, with their involvement depending on how they can best serve the network.
Dwyer said there are many people being detained without criminal histories, and others
“This is happening right in our backyard, and it is happening where people are being racially profiled and people are being detained who have no criminal background,” she said.
Glen Cove has been a center for immigration enforcement in Nassau County, causing many in the community to speak out against the crackdown. Several people spoke at the Glen Cove City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 10, expressing their concerns about immigration enforcement in the area.
Glen Cove has a 53.9% white majority, which is a lower percentage than the county average, and there have been double-digit reported ICE encounters since four unidentified people were taken into federal custody in June 2025 near the Glen Street LIRR station, according to the Glen Cove Rapid Response Network.
Islip Forward, a website that tracks ICE activity on Long Island, also reported confirmed ICE encounters in Glen Cove as recently as Feb. 12 and March 6.
One woman at the Tuesday, March 10, city council meeting told a story about how she was threatened by an ICE agent, saying the agent told her he knew where she lived. Dwyer said there have been several instances where people in the network have been approached and had their picture taken by ICE agents.
State Assembly Member Charles Lavine joined members of the Glen Cove Rapid Response Network and others at an information session in January, where 150 people were present to learn about their constitutional rights.
Efforts to solicit additional comment regarding ICE from Glen Cove City Council Mayor Pam Panzenbeck were unavailing.
People interested in joining the Glen Cove Rapid Response Network or looking for more information can send an email to gcrapidresponse@gmail.com.
