Safe Communities & Sensible Immigration
Keeping our communities safe isn't a political slogan for me—it's work I've actually done. As Suffolk County Executive, I hired hundreds of cops and worked side-by-side with the men and women of the Suffolk County Police Department to reduce crime, support victims, strengthen neighborhoods, and give our officers the tools they needed to do their jobs safely and effectively. I believe we can support law enforcement, protect our communities, secure our borders, and uphold America's values at the same time. These aren't competing priorities—they're common sense.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Domestic Violence Policy Reform. Executive leadership & Real results.
My first executive order as County Executive changed how domestic violence cases were handled — and arrests increased from a few hundred to over 2,400 a year. Victims shouldn’t have to press charges alone.
Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence
My very first action as County Executive was signing an Executive Order that changed how Suffolk County responded to domestic violence. Too often, officers could only make an arrest if the victim chose to press charges—even in situations where there was clear evidence of a crime. We knew many victims were afraid to come forward because of intimidation, fear, or financial dependence. I changed that policy by requiring officers to make an arrest of the perpetrator whenever there was clear evidence that a crime had occurred.
The results were immediate.Domestic violence arrests increased from just 146 the previous year to more than 2,400 during the first year under the new policy, helping protect victims, hold abusers accountable, and send a clear message that domestic violence would not be tolerated in Suffolk County.
Standing with the Officers Who Protect Our Communities
I've always believed that public safety begins by supporting the professionals who put their lives on the line every day. When I became Suffolk County Executive, the Suffolk County Law Enforcement Union had been working without a contract. I brought everyone to the table and negotiated a fair agreement that recognized the sacrifices our officers make while protecting us.
My administration also invested in better equipment and expanded training so officers had the resources they needed to respond safely and professionally to every situation. Strong, professional police departments don't happen by accident. They require leaders who respect law enforcement, listen to officers, and give them the support they need and deserve.
Building Safer Neighborhoods
Keeping communities safe means more than responding to crime—it means preventing it. I worked closely with law enforcement, towns, villages and community leaders to identify properties that had become magnets for illegal activity and helped reclaim those neighborhoods for the families who lived there. I believe government should work hand-in-hand with local police, residents, and businesses to improve quality of life, reduce crime, and keep every neighborhood safe.
Secure Borders. Smart Immigration.
I believe America deserves secure borders and an immigration system that actually works. We need to stop drug trafficking, human trafficking, gang violence, and illegal crossings while modernizing our legal immigration system so it is orderly, fair, and efficient. Our immigration laws should focus enforcement on violent criminals, traffickers, and those who threaten public safety—not waste resources targeting hardworking families who have lived peacefully in our communities for years. We need comprehensive reform and modernization to our immigration system, and that will only happen when politicians stop using immigrants to score political points and instead work on building stronger communities. Local police should be focused on fighting crime, not serving as federal immigration agents. The trust between local law enforcement and the communities they protect is one of the most effective tools we have for solving crimes and keeping neighborhoods safe.
The Contrast: Talking a Big Game with No Spine
Andrew Garbarino talks a lot about public safety. I've actually managed it. As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Garbarino has been a weak voice that takes his orders and parrots talking points from the Trump Administration. He hasn’t spent any time or hearings focused on how to fix our broken immigration system and promised an investigation on the ICE shootings in Minneapolis but hasn't produced a page.
Though he's Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee he wasn't even able to stop the Trump Administration from withholding terrorism funding for New York. That shows you how weak he is.
I know that keeping people safe requires more than talking points or press releases. It requires leadership, partnership, accountability, and the willingness to solve problems instead of exploiting them for political purposes but accomplishing nothing meaningful.