New York's Erie County axes DHS job fair over ICE's role, drawing backlash: 'Totally inappropriate'

The Buffalo Convention Center canceled a two-day Department of Homeland Security career expo due to objections over the participation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz urged the cancellation, stating the event was inconsistent with the community’s values. A Republican legislator criticized Poloncarz’s actions as overstepping his authority.

• A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) career expo in Buffalo was canceled after officials objected to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) participation.
• Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz urged the Buffalo Convention Center’s management to cancel the event, citing values inconsistent with a ‘welcoming community.’
• Republican Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo criticized Poloncarz, calling his actions an overreach of authority and expressing concern for vendors who had set up for the expo.
• DHS defended ICE, stating its agents focus on protecting Americans and questioning the lack of outrage over crimes committed by illegal aliens.
• The expo was described as DHS’s premier large-scale hiring event, open to various groups and recruiting for positions across cybersecurity, law enforcement, and immigration services.