The daughter of a Long Island ICE detainee broke down crying in front of Nassau legislators over the county’s agreement to work with the feds, leading to a shouting match between officials and residents.
The chaos broke out Tuesday during a heated legislative session after Fernanda Mejia, the daughter of detained Port Washington bagel shop manager Fernando Mejia, appeared in front of the legislature with her grandfather, who did not share his name.
“My name is Fernanda Mejia — my dad was taken by ICE,” she said before Majority Leader Howard Kopel cut her off with a sharp string of no’s.
Fernanda was speaking in place for another woman who signed up to approach the legislators — which Kopel said is against the rules and recommended she fill out a card and they would “be happy” to hear her out.
But after their constituents in the audience started to protest and demand they hear Fernanda out, the majority leader gave in and allowed her and her grandfather to have their time to speak.
“My dad was taken a month ago from the parking lot of his job — they weren’t even looking for him, they were looking for someone else — and I’m heartbroken,” she said as she started to break down in tears.
She said her father is her favorite person, and has been treated “horribly” since being detained about a month ago. Fernanda said her father suffers from cirrhosis of the liver, and since being in custody has been denied medical care, slept on concrete, and went prolonged periods of time where he was not allowed to shower or brush his teeth.
During her speech, a few legislators appeared to have looked away from Fernanda — which angered the crowd, prompting residents to stand up and start shouting at the lawmakers that they’re “heartless,” and to “look her in the face.”
“Just understand something — an officer will be happy to help you out if you can’t sit down and behave yourself,” Kopel said over the crowd of yelling residents, who eventually calmed down and let Fernanda and her grandfather finish their time.
But after ending their speech asking the county to end their partnership with ICE, the GOP majority seemed unmoved by the pair’s talk.
“Good luck to you, I wish you and your family good luck — I hope it works out. Alright, next,” Kopel simply replied.
The county has continuously stood by its partnership with ICE, and previously insisted that it isn’t going anywhere, and that unless someone is a danger to society, they have nothing to worry about.
“There is no reason to be afraid because they’re only going after criminals –- people who have committed rapes and burglaries,” Blakeman told The Post last month.
But Fernando, who has no criminal record, was detained by ICE on June 12 as he was arriving at Schmear Bagel & Café in Port Washington for work.
He emigrated to the US from El Salvador two decades ago, but overstayed his visa and missed an immigration hearing in 2005, and as a result, an order for his removal was issued and he was sent to a facility in Newark, New Jersey as part of President Trump’s crackdown on undocumented migrants in the US.
His case has sparked national attention — inducing protests, rallies, a GoFundMe that quickly raised over $30,000, and a letter from Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi demanding his release.
Fernando was recently granted a temporary reprieve last week, with the courts ruling that he cannot be deported for at least a month in early July, and is currently awaiting a decision on his motion to reopen the case over his immigration status.
