The Elmira Police Department says reports of an ICE raid in the city on Thursday were false, clarifying that what residents saw was a scheduled police training exercise.
According to the department, several online posts circulated claiming that federal immigration agents were conducting a raid in the Heritage Park area on East Water Street. Police say those reports were incorrect.
What residents actually observed, officials said, was a joint training session involving the Elmira Police Department’s SWAT team and the Steuben County SWAT team. The teams were practicing scenario-based exercises, including building entry and raid-style movements—standard components of law enforcement training. Police noted that the gear and uniforms used during the training may look similar to those worn by federal agencies, which likely led to the confusion.
The department emphasized that no ICE operations took place in Elmira on Thursday, and no immigration-related enforcement actions occurred.
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