TOWN OF CHESTER PASSES RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE LOCATING OF A US ICE PROCESSING OR DETENTION FACILITY IN WAREHOUSES WITHIN THE TOWN AND/OR VILLAGE OF CHESTER
BY: Keith S. Shikowitz, Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter
This may be taking place in Orange County but it has worked it’s way down to Rockland.
Recently, primarily since the unfortunate death of Alex Pretti, who a second video shows was not the peaceful nurse that the media has painted him out to be. About a week before he died, (January 13) he was cursing at ICE agents, daring them to assault him, pepper spray him and his next action was to spit on an agent and then kick out the back taillight of their vehicle. The January 13 video also shows him running up to the scene where the ICE agents were inserting himself into the situation.
Something that people on both sides need to keep in mind, we need to allow the investigation into these unfortunate deaths in Minnesota to run their course and if the officers involved acted in violation of the law, then they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. But if they are found to have acted in accordance with the law, then it should be accepted and people need to move on PEACEFULLY!!!
This has caused a number of state and local governments to pass resolutions banning ICE from taking actions in their communities.
Scott Johnson said, “It’s amazing that these governments are doing this today. When Presidents, Bush and Obama were doing this, no one complained, protested or interfered with ICE doing their job. This has nothing to do with anything but the left wanting to keep these people who are here illegally in this country in order to make them citizens and give them more electoral votes to get power back and keep it in perpetuity.”
He went on to say, “These people are crying over murderers, rapists and other violent illegals being deported, but they have not shed a tear or even acknowledged the AMERICAN citizens who these people, who should never have been in this country have killed.”
Rockland County Legislature is considering a similar resolution to the one in the town of Chester. Senator Bill Weber sent out a press release which Denounces “Sanctuary County” Push by Rockland Democrat Leaders.
TOWN OF CHESTER PASSES RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE LOCATING OF A US ICE PROCESSING OR DETENTION FACILITY IN WAREHOUSES WITHIN THE TOWN AND/OR VILLAGE OF CHESTER
Holdridge explained the process of opposing this situation. “We submitted a letter on January 16th, the day of the deadline of ICE’s and the DHS’s, Notice of activity responses to submit responses to them regarding whether or not there were concerns or opposition. The Town of Chester, along with the Village of Chester and Orange County, all submitted letters of opposition on the 16th to DHS, and then last night we passed a resolution just reaffirming our opposition.”
He added that they didn’t say anything, that wasn’t already stated in the letter from the 16th, but they just wanted to reaffirm it and put it in a formal resolution, which we passed last night, that’s going to be sent to DHS and all of our, state, local, and federal representatives for, Chester, New York, and then on top of that we passed the, resolution in support of the New York MELT Act.
The MELT Act is a proposed legislation in front of the New York State legislature that basically states that any law enforcement in New York State besides SWAT tactical teams and other special operations units would have to be identifiable. They can’t be wearing plain clothes for no reason, and they have to be identifiable with their name or some other identifier, and they shouldn’t be masked. They should not be covering their faces so they can escape accountability for any reasons.
The contradiction to this legislation is the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution that state governments can’t dictate to the federal government how to do operations. I asked him how that is going to fly based on that?
He responded, “That would be a question for an attorney. There’s legislation in front of the New York State Legislature, so, I imagine they have some leeway over or authority over what happens in the State of New York.
So perhaps they don’t, or perhaps it’s more symbolic than anything, but I think it’s important for us to make our stance known as to how we want law enforcement to conduct themselves here in Chester and in New York.”
The other thing is this too, you’ve got people doxing these agents and threatening their families. I mean, these people aren’t just going after the ICE agents. They’re threatening their families, trying to scare these people into not doing their jobs. Wouldn’t you want to protect yourself and your family if it means having a mask on to prevent. Your family from being attacked.
Holdridge responded, “To me, we want our law enforcement wearing, police cameras, and how we want them on. If there’s nothing being done wrong, there should be nothing to be afraid of. So, the same principle, I think, should be applied to covering your faces and making it so you’re non-identifiable and no one can submit complaints about you and hold you accountable if you were to break the law or abuse your authority that was given to you by the people, so I guess we have a little disagreement there.”
I’m just pointing out that these agents are doing their job, and their families are being threatened, it’s a matter of, the people that are threatening the agents is one thing. When they start threatening the families, these people are innocent. Their families are innocent of anything, even if the agent’s doing something wrong, they should be held accountable. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be. There are other ways to identify officers.
“I disagree with anybody threatening anybody’s family, but that’s what’s been happening. However, I still do believe that somebody in law enforcement should be identifiable with, with their name or some other identifier, and that’s what this proposed legislation is being put forth in front of the New York State Legislature, so I’m in support of that. I don’t think that anybody who is given the power to enforce the laws by the people should not be able to be held accountable by those people, and you can’t hold somebody accountable if you don’t know who they are.” He concluded.
The wording of the resolution:
WHEREAS,the Town Board of the Town of Chester has become aware of the United States Federal Government’s desire to convert the Pep Boys warehouse in the Village of Chester to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Chester submitted a letter to ICE on January 16outlining various concerns and our opposition against any ICE facility coming to the Town and Village of Chester; and
WHEREAS any largescale project like an ICE processing facility that would be established in the Village of Chester would have substantial impacts on the Town of Chester and Village of Chester residents who are, at the same time, Town of Chester residents;
WHEREAS, neither the Town of Chester, nor the Village of Chester, have been approached, inquired, or solicited by the federal government for the placement of such a facility within the Village of Chester; and
WHEREAS, given the lack of any communication or contact regarding the realistic potential of a plan to convert an industrial warehouse or warehouses into a detainee processing facility within the Village, it is impossible for the Village or Town to make informed policy decisions; and
WHEREAS, the Town and Village of Chester are predominately residential communities located in Orange County, with limited water, sewer and other public resources and municipal services; and
WHEREAS, the conversion of industrial warehouses within the Village would place unanticipated demands upon the Village and Town’s water, sewer, public safety services, and other public resources in structures and areas not intended for human occupancy; and
WHEREAS, it is a primary objective of the Town Board of the Town of Chester to ensure the public safety and welfare of its residents, business community, and visitors to the Town; and
WHEREAS, it is the position of the Town Board of the Town of Chester that the Town and Village of Chester are not appropriate municipalities for the placement of a detainee processing facility.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Chester, in the County of Orange and State of New York, hereby unequivocally opposes the conversion of existing industrial warehouses within the Village and Town of Chester for the creation of an ICE processing facility, or any other facility that disregards the Town and Village’s land use and regulatory ordinances and creates unanticipated burdens upon the Town and Village’s infrastructure, resources, and services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk of the Town of Chester send a certified copy of this resolution to the, Village of Chester, County of Orange, State Assemblyman Brian Maher, State Senator James Skoufis, Congressman Pat Ryan, Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Chuck Schumer, and the United States Department of Homeland Security for their review.
MOTION to adopt by and seconded by
. The vote was ayes to nays with abstentions. The resolution was declared adopted on , 2026.
CERTIFICATE
The foregoing is a true and complete copy of a resolution adopted by the Town board of the Town of Chester at regular meeting held on , 2026. Public notice was given and the meeting was conducted in full compliance with the New York Open Meeting Law (Public Officers Law, Sections 100-111). Minutes of the meeting will be available as provided by law.