Fuming Queens elected officials say they have yet to receive a straight answer to letters sent to the Bulova Corporate Center’s management urging the community business hub to prohibit ICE from staging agents in its parking lot.
Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and other local officials, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, say the mixed-use space located at 75-20 Astoria Blvd. in East Elmhurst, just a short distance from LaGuardia Airport, has been allowing immigration enforcement agents to stage their vehicles in the parking lot, after which they conduct raids and detainments in the surrounding areas.
The former watch factory houses government offices, private offices, and businesses accessible to the public — leaving both politicians and the public at large concerned.
The first letter, dated Sept. 1, urged President of Blumenfeld Development Group Edward Blumenfeld to prohibit ICE from using the grounds for their enforcement activities.
Google Street View.
“We do not know the circumstances surrounding ICE’s presence on the property or whether Bulova management has authorized or facilitated the use of the parking lot in this manner. We are reaching out because of the gravity of what is happening in our communities,” part of the letter stated. “Over the past few weeks, we have seen a sharp increase in immigration enforcement across New York City, with immigrant families increasingly facing arrests, surveillance, and the threat of family separation in their own neighborhoods. Our communities are experiencing an unprecedented level of fear as ICE has escalated its presence across Queens, specifically East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.”
amNewYork reached out to Bulova Corporate Center management for comment, and is awaiting a response.
This comes as amNewYork has reported a massive spike in ICE sightings and detainments across the city, especially in Queens. Most recently, an ICE agent was spotted in the same neighborhood, East Elmhurst, pointing a firearm at a man filming him.
The shocking incident took place in September on 24th Avenue between 97th and 98th Streets. Video of the incident, obtained by amNewYork, appeared to show the armed individual inside the vehicle drawing a handgun equipped with a mounted flashlight and pointing it toward a man filming on his cellphone.
Sources familiar with the matter say ICE was last spotted in Elmhurst this morning with vehicles outside of 94th Street and Corona Avenue.
The elected officials say Bulova Corporate Center’s response to their letter was a non-response and didn’t address the concerns regarding the staging. Instead, Blumenfeld simply replied by stating that “ICE does not have an office at the Bulova Corporate Center.”
That response, González-Rojas charged, was not satisfactory.
“Bulova Development Group has a responsibility to ensure its property is not being used as a staging ground for ICE enforcement operations in our communities. We asked them to take a clear and concrete step: disallow ICE from staging its vehicles in their parking lot. Instead of addressing that request, they dodged the questions and avoided taking responsibility for what is happening on their property,” González-Rojas said. “Immigrant families in Queens should not have to see ICE vehicles gathering outside a local business and wonder what is about to happen to their neighbors and loved ones. Bulova needs to do the right thing and prohibit ICE from using its parking lot as a staging area. I am proud to stand alongside partners at every level of government to protect our immigrant communities and demand accountability.”
Elected officials now say they are once again demanding a direct answer on whether Blumenfeld Development Group is directly allowing ICE to stage in the parking lot and, if so, to stop them from continuing the process. The politicians say they are ready to work with Blumenfeld to come to a solution.