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An NYPD sergeant, Atickul Islam, has been indicted for allegedly impersonating an ICE officer in a case that has raised concerns about abuse of power. According to the indictment, Islam posed as the Director of ICE's New York City Field Office and instructed a Brooklyn family to report to an immigration facility by April 15. The incident reportedly stemmed from a personal vendetta against a woman who rejected his romantic advances, as reported by law enforcement sources.
Islam, who also went by the alias "John W. Anderson," was arrested and charged with false impersonation of a federal officer. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and was released on a $25,000 personal bond. According to UPI, the NYPD has suspended him without pay and confiscated his badge and service weapon.
The case has sparked outrage among immigrant advocacy groups. Rex Chen, supervising counsel for Immigrant Rights at LatinoJustice PRLDEF, condemned the alleged actions, stating, "Impersonating a federal agent to order someone from our immigrant community to report to an ICE facility is an egregious abuse of power." He added that such actions could deter immigrants from seeking help or reporting crimes, thereby compromising public safety, as reported by AMNY.
Islam's next court appearance is scheduled for January 6, where he faces up to three years in prison if convicted.